The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : When farmhands wield the camera

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Tuesday, Jun 17, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

When farmhands wield the camera

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Cinema is a highly sophisticated medium requiring technical knowledge and training.

This, one assumes, is the preserve of the educated, urban class. But a group of peasant women from Andhra Pradesh are all set to turn this rather snobbish notion on its head.

“Affirming Life and Diversity”, which will be screened in the city on Wednesday, is a multimedia publication comprising 12 video films made by the peasant women filmmakers of the Deccan Development Society, Community Media Trust, based in Pastapur, Medak district, Andhra Pradesh.

The film-makers are non-literate women farmers from Dalit communities who have learnt to express their concerns through this medium. Their video films deal with issues of food and seed sovereignty, control over natural resources, markets and media.

The series of video films is a triumph on two counts: it shows the women’s control over the medium even as it reflects their unique perspective on the issues of agriculture and food systems.

The film is being brought to Bangalore by Deccan Development Society India, Hyderabad, and the Network of Women in Media, Bangalore.

The event will include screening of selected parts from the films, a presentation of their work by the rural women film-makers, and a panel discussion involving media and social activists.

The event will be held at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Auditorium, Race Course Road, in Bangalore between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

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