###A Paralysed State Cows Down Before Hindutva Brigade and Halts Screening of Pro-people Films at IX Udaipur

On 16th November 2024 it was proved once again that the Hindutva Brigade which is a non-state actor can act over and above the district administration and make it helpless unable to defend the right of the people to express their opinion. A handful of miscreants forced the Principal of Ravindra Nath Tagore Medical College, Udaipur to withdraw his permission given duly to Udaipur Film Society to organize the IX Film Festival. The organizers had taken permission and paid a fee of Rs.Thirty Thousand for the festival. The posters and banners were displayed on the streets and also at the venue. Everything went on well on the first day but in the afternoon of the second day some youth claiming to be members of RSS approached the Principal of the Medical College and pressurized him to stop the Film Festival. While the film on the Bhakti poet Kabir was being screened a few staff members of the college entered the hall with security staff and asked the organizers to stop the screening of the film and shut down the projector.

It was said that the permission had been withdrawn. In the meanwhile about twenty youth gathered and started threatening to disrupt and destroy posters and banners if the show was not stopped immediately. They were opposing the dedication of the festival to Palestinian children and to Late Prof Saibaba, who they claimed was accused of making bombs. It is a pity that the youth who pressurized the Principal of R.N.T. Medical College, Udaipur were so ill-informed that they did not know that Prof. G.N.Sai Baba whom they were opposing had been acquitted by the court. Secondly, the government of India had always been with the people of Palestine. Both the premises on which they tried to disrupt the Film festival were ill founded. The organizing team tried to approach the district administration to seek permission but it was told that they were “Helpless”.

The undaunted team of Udaipur Film Society did not deter and an alternative venue was created with the support of Comrade Mahesh Sharma who unhesitatingly provided his campus for the event. The festival continued on the third day in which a number of very important films were screened. Though the audience decreased due to change of place but the spirit remained undaunted and the shows continued till 8.00pm even on the third day. In 2015 also, the Udaipur Film Festival was opposed when it was dedicated to 'Rohith Vemula'. The venue had to be shifted from Rajasthan Agriculture College to Vidya Bhavan Auditorium. This year a book release and seminar on Mahatma Gandhi scheduled at the regional office of Vardhman Mahaveer Open University but that was also disrupted as the permission given earlier was withdrawn on the day of programme by the Vice Chancellor Prof. Kailash Sodani. All these incidents show the rising attacks on democracy , freedom of expression and the intolerance to any ideology that does not subscribe to the political ideology of the ruling party.

The Festival’s Vision and Highlights

The festival featured a diverse lineup of twenty four films, including seven feature films, one experimental film, and sixteen documentaries. Five films focused on Palestine, while others explored caste, gender, and social justice issues.

Special screenings included Tharu Eco Weaves, a documentary by Tharu tribal students from Uttarakhand’s Nanakmatta Public School, highlighting their community’s unique cultural identity. A curated package of Palestinian films was presented by Jaipur-based curator Vineet Agrawal of Oralities Foundation.

Focus on Young Film Makers of Rajasthan

This year young filmmakers from Rajasthan were invited to showcase their films. One hundred thirty entries were received out of which fourteen entries were selected by the jury. Of these a film directed by Kishan Salvi raised a very important issue of the sufferers of Silicosis. They are artisans who made the pillars and statues installed in numerous temples of the country including the Ram temple of Ayodhya. The dust that rises in the process of grinding and cutting stone, deposits in the lungs and causes a disease which is almost incurable. It is shown in the film that the doctors are unable to differentiate between TB and Silicosis and treat the patients likewise. There are government schemes for compensation but are rarely executed. Another film that drew attention was titled “Thank You”. Made by a young student of B.A. Palash Sharma the film provides a deep insight into the psyche of Indian Youth who are facing so many complex issues today and are at the crossroads. The film is written, produced and directed by Palash Sharma and he himself has played the twin roles of the protagonist and the doctor. Another film “Dheere Dheere Jeevan” directed by Bhupender Singh presented the life and works of well known poet Prabhat. It set a high standard of a bio-pic of a poet. Shabnam Virmani’s film “Had Anhad” was being screened when the administration stalled the film festival. It is an irony that the Hindu fanatics who have no real understanding of things could do this.

Sanjeev Shah’s film “Hun Hunshi Hunshi Lal” which was scheduled on the 16th had to be screened on 17th evening. A beautiful blend of fantasy and farce, this film produced in 1992 is as relevant today as it was then. The film is a mock epic film in which nearlt forty songs have been used and the narrative develops with the songs which also form a commentary on the plot. A very impressive film was followed by a discussion with the director Sanjeev Shah who showed his solidarity with the organizing team. Beeju Toppo from Jharkhand was also present in the festival. His film “Taapu Raji” presented the problems of the people of Andaman and those who were taken to Andaman to work in the forest department. Issues of employment and the question of reservation for the migrant labour going from Bihar, Jharkhand and other parts were raised powerfully. Payal Kapadia’s film “A Night of Knowing Nothing” in the format of a diary of a young girl various movements which took place in the Universities in the last few years and how they were crushed. Voice of Kanhaiya , former president of JNUSU was also heard quoting Lenin in his lecture.

Participants included filmmakers from Rajasthan, Ahmedabad, Ranchi, Bhopal, and beyond. The festival also hosted a bookstall by Navarun Publications, featuring literature on social issues. There were no invitations or entry tickets required to attend the festival.

“This festival is part of the ‘Cinema of Resistance’ movement, aimed at fostering dialogue on critical societal issues. So far 73 film festivals have been held across India. This is not just an attack on us but on the freedom of expression and democratic values,” convenor of the film festival Rinku Prihar stated. National Convenor Sanjay Joshi, Himanshu Pandya, Pragnya, Amrit, Shankar Lal Chaudhary, Chandra Dev Ola, Yogesh, were the core team members.

Despite the challenges, the organizers remain determined to continue their mission of using meaningful cinema as a tool for resistance and awareness.