By M Reyaz, TwoCircles.net,
New Delhi: A film literally made on shoe-string budget by amatures from small towns in UP is attempting to fight against superstitious beliefs prevalent in our society. Dedicated to Dr. Narendra Narendra Dabholkar, rationalist author and activist from Maharashtra who was killed recently, Quaid or confinement is a story of psychological ignorance of an eleven- twelve year old child.
In times when ‘100 crore club’ has become the norm for the Bollywood, new experiments with films are going on from Malegaon to Meerut. Supermen of Malegaon is a 2012 Hindi documentary film written and directed by Faiza Ahmad Khan, that revolves around the passion which residents of Malegaon, a in Maharashtra have for film making.
Produced by Jan Cinema (People’s Cinema), Quiad is a step ahead that deals with a very serious issue of superstition and understanding child-psychology and engages with audience.
Based on a short Hindi story of Gyan Prakash Vivek, the film resolves around a young boy Sanju, who is as naughty as many young kids his age are, and is quite bold. But his boldness proves precarious for him, as often he is ignored or targeted by teachers or peers, which he vehemently resists. Neither his family nor teachers recognize the emotional and mental needs of the boy and in a long chain of events, he gradually develops a kind of inferiority complex and goes under stress.
However, his stress and resistance is perceived as the spell of spirit under superstitions and he is locked for months in a room on the command of local Tantrik.
Shot from film: Sanju with his parents.
He is captivated in an isolated small dark room for months to be released only by an energetic youth, played by Sanif Madaar – teacher and theatre activist – who gradually engages with him and tries to bring him out of his insanity.
Played by young boy Kishan Singh, the character of Sanju looks natural in the film and hold the audience.
Although the film has several technical glitches, but considering the fact that none of the people associated with production has any formal training, it comes out very well.
Produced by Mathura based Jan Cinema (People’s Cinema), whole film has been shot by simple 7 D and 5 D cameras and often torches – at times even torch of mobile phones – was used for the purpose of lighting. The production team laughs when they say that they used to do dubbing in car or in house, under blanket.
Director M. Gani is an eminent name in the field of theater who has been working for about more than two decades. Through his plays, writings, films and public meetings etc., he has been raising the voice of public and public struggle in a democratic and effective manner.
The film has been made in two years, on minimal budget, with most of the shootings done on weekends, as everyone is engaged in other works as well. Gani laughs that often production team would bring their own lunch from home and on many occasions he was alone while shooting.
When Gani started working on the film, he did not even have the basic knowledge of camera or shooting. In last two years, however, he has made few short films on social issues. But this is his first attempt at shooting a full length movie. Gani says that a friend helped him make first cut, but when he started working on editing himself, he was not even very familiar with the computer, forget sophisticated editing consoles. A documentary film-maker friend from Delhi, however, helped him over phone with the basics as he experimented.
Jan Cinema is a newly formed group of individuals who have been engaged in theatre, art, literature, and other progressive activities for about more than two decades. Often raising funds from common people, the group believes in making ‘meaningful’ films in true sense of ‘for the people, by the people, by the people.’
M. Sanif Madaar (Ranjan) with Author Gyan Prakash Vivek.
The film was screened in Delhi on Saturday at Studio Safdar at Shadipur amongst, in presence of many members of the production team, where audience engaged and gave their valuable feedback on the film.
Writer Gyan Prakash Vivek, who was also among the audience, said that the film has brought out the empathy he wanted to express in his story even more passionately than the story.
M. Gani in discussion with Audience at Safdar Theatre.
Film- Quaid
Production – Jan Cinema
Duration- 85 minutes
Story- Gyanprakash Vivek
Screenplay- M. Hanif Madaar
Direction- M. Gani
Main Cast-
· Kishan Singh (Sanju)
· M. Sanif Madaar (Ranjan)
· Rahul Gupta (Tantrik)
· Rajesh Shrivastava (Father)
· Bobina (Mother)
· Anita Chaudhary (Malti)
· Sandeepan Nagar (Principal)
· Dileep Raghuvanshi (Shopkeeper)
To contact the production for screening, contribution or any details mail at: [email protected] or [email protected]