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Young Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia's film 'All We Imagine as Light' will be screened in the most prestigious Palme d'Or category of the Cannes Film Festival.
Since the selection of this film, a large number of young filmmakers have come here. The participation of young filmmakers is being seen on a large scale in the activities of India Pavilion, Cannes Film Bazaar and Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) etc.
His enthusiasm is also because this time the films of about 10 Indian filmmakers from all over the world are included in the official selection of the Cannes Film Festival.
Poster of the film 'Hamara Barah'.
The film raises many questions
Director Kamal Chandra's first film 'Hamare Barah' has garnered a lot of praise due to its different content. The film raises the question which interpretation of the religion of Islam is correct? The basic question is whether Islam adopts different standards for men and women?
The hero of the film is a true Muslim and is bound by his religious beliefs. Life did not give him the opportunity to know, understand and adopt the progressive traditions of Islam beyond the religious gurus. Therefore, he is definitely not the villain of the film.
When his wife dies while giving birth to their twelfth child due to his foolish fanaticism, he monologues at her grave that she never got a chance to learn anything new about Islam. Here Rukhsana's voice-over says that I became free by dying but left many women imprisoned in pain.
Actor Annu Kapoor and film makers during the screening of the film.
'Our Twelve' was also discussed in the India Pavilion.
Apart from Annu Kapoor and Manoj Joshi, all the actors in the film 'Hamara Barah' are new. It had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Bazaar. On this occasion, the film's lead actor Annu Kapoor, director Kamal Chandra and producers Sanjay Nagpal, Virendra Bhagat and Shiv Balak Singh gave detailed information about the film.
'Our Twelve' was also discussed in the India Pavilion. The makers had named the film as 'Hum Do Hamare Barah' but due to pressure from the censor board, it had to be changed to just 'Humaare Barah'.
On the surface it may seem that this film is directly blaming the Muslim community that they are solely responsible for increasing the population of the country. But later on, many poignant stories emerge in the background of this issue without hurting the sentiments of any community.
Virendra Bhagat, one of the producers of the film, says that all the characters in the film are Muslims and hence it is not appropriate to see the Hindu-Muslim angle in it.
Sanjay Nagpal says that population growth is a global issue which has been raised through a touching story.
This film was also discussed in the India Pavilion of Cannes.
Film premiere will also take place in London and Dubai
After the Cannes Film Festival, this film is also to be premiered in London and Dubai. The film's producer Ravi Gupta says that the audience's opinion will be known only when the film will be released in India and Overseas on June 6. Shiv Balak Singh clearly denies the possibility of hurting the sentiments of the Muslim community.
Director Kamal Chandra believes that this decision should be left to the audience. Lead actor Annu Kapoor says that whatever the truth may be, the Muslim society may not be ready to tolerate this truth. One thing is certain that Annu Kapoor has acted so brilliantly after all. He has merged into the character of the film's main character, Lucknow's Qawwal Mansoor Ali Khan Sanjari, so much so that it does not seem as if he is acting. Manoj Joshi has also done a wonderful job in the role of a Muslim lawyer.
What is the story of the film?
Lucknow's Qawwal, 60-year-old Mansoor Ali Khan Sanjri (Annu Kapoor) already has 11 children. His first wife died after giving birth to 6 children. He marries Rukhsana, who is 30 years younger than him, and has 5 children. Rukhsana becomes pregnant for the sixth time.
Khan sahab proudly says that 'if there is a census next year, there will be two of us and twelve of our own in this house.' Not only this, Khan sahab is neither educated himself nor does he let his children study in government or private schools. He has interpreted Islam as per his convenience.
The problem arises when the lady doctor announces that if Rukhsana is not aborted, she may die while giving birth to the child. Khan Saheb's elder daughter Alfia musters courage and files a case in the Lucknow bench of Uttar Pradesh High Court demanding that her step mother be allowed to abort the baby.
From here the film takes a new turn and during the trial many heartrending stories from within the four walls of the house come to light that due to the religious fanaticism of the head of the family and his arbitrary interpretation of Islam, it is becoming difficult for women to breathe in millions of Indian families.
The film 'Hamare Barah' is a family film which everyone should watch. Without hurting religious sentiments, director Kamal Chandra has used emotional melodrama to express his views clearly. Even though the story of 'Hamara Barah' is based on Muslim society, everyone needs to learn a lesson from it.
Author: Ajit Roy (Senior Journalist and Film Critic)