BY ROBIN GHOSH
(ECONOMIST AND COMMUNICATION MENTOR)
KOLKATA, 27 JULY 2023:
To many, the word ‘Subaltern Cinema’ may not be a familiar word.
Generally, in the Indian context, subaltern refers to ‘dalits’ and if we extend the term to cover the oppressed and the marginalised – we cover a wide section of our society reeling under poverty, unemployment and economic oppression.
Be that as it may, Indian cinema from time to time has picked up subaltern narratives, and in the sphere of regional cinema especially, a number of films have been produced depicting subaltern heroes in Bengali, Marathi and Tamil Films. Bimal Roys, “Do Bigha Zamin” or Satyajit Ray’s “Sadgati” are notable examples. However, in the current situation when viewers are resisting to go to theatres, and with the dominance of OTT platforms, the scope of creating narratives on the marginalised sections of society has diminished.
While conceptualising a crash course on Documentary Filmmaking – a practical, hands-on and affordable course, we decided to focus on poverty oppressed people from urban and rural areas.
Ashoke Viswanathan, the award winning filmmaker has in association with Robeen’s Media Shop (www.robeensmediashop.com), a media specialist agency has designed a 10 day practical course on “How to make a Documentary Film and Market it Globally.
This is an immersive workshop where participants develop an idea of a documentary, design the structure, shoot and edit the film and put it for sponsorship or sale in the global market.
Regarding the focus of the project, Ashoke says “those who undergo this training are Assistant Directors. They actually take shots, arrange & devise the frames, and edit the film under mentorship, and also learn how to market documentary films”
Since every batch is making a documentary film, we plan to produce 10 documentaries on subaltern heroes who have displayed exemplary leadership qualities. Take the case of Satya Ranjan Dolui. Having come from a village, and working as a security guard earning a meagre salary, he has set up a beautiful garden and an open library in a park in Kolkata – A fascinating narrative, a micro hero, a subaltern hero. A goal setter and achiever.
Our second batch of students, like the first batch, will also produce a documentary on on immigrant from Bihar, who came to Kolkata 50 years back, took up, and is still repairing Gramophones, an obsolete item – another subaltern story.
Ashoke Viswanathan , Ex Dean of Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), has innovative plans: an online course on Documentary Filmmaking and marketing. Marketing and a 10 Day Residential Program on “How to make a Documentary Film and Monetize it in the Global Market” The essence of the practical model developed by Ashoke and the Robeen’s Media Shop team is based on the “learning by doing” principle, and each participant works as an Assistant Director and gets an ‘Experience Certificate’ to help them to secure professional assignments.
The subaltern documentary series comprising 12 micro heroes has been named as “Anya Nayak” and we are all hopeful that it will be a milestone project in the documentary landscape of India.
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