Thousand days of struggle
ANAND HARIDAS
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`1000 Days and a Dream' tracks the protest by villagers in Plachimada to preserve groundwater and ensure fresh water for the next generation.
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THE THIRSTY LAND: `1000 Days and a Dream' is a movie by P. Baburaj and C. Saratchandran.
This time the statement is more poignant and politically emphatic. In their new film on the anti-Cola struggle at Plachimada, `1000 Days and a Dream,' the filmmaker duo P. Baburaj and C. Saratchandran have adopted a holistic approach - aesthetically and politically.
Their first film on Plachimada, `The Bitter Drink,' had a specific purpose - that of telling the world about the struggle. It recorded events between July and December, 2002. The movie was premiered at Asian Social Forum, Hyderabad, and then screened at World Social Forum, Mumbai.
Evolution of a struggle
Although the duo started work on another film, they were in touch with the struggle at Plachimada. They did not miss the evolution of this struggle against a multinational giant. "Our role in the struggle did not end with the making of a film. It was in June 2005 that we thought of a new film," says Saratchandran. The new film tracks the evolution of the struggle. From a local protest by a group of villagers against a multinational company polluting water, it became a protest that has been celebrated by political parties, media and the intelligentsia. However, Saratchandran feels that the struggle did not get the full backing of Malayalis.
Veloor Swaminathan, convener of an anti-Cola committee, narrates an incident when he returned late from a protest to find his family waiting for him to bring something to cook dinner. Wiping his tears, he says, "What was it all for?" The question remains unanswered.
The movie begins with disturbing montage; women of Plachimada waiting in the rain with plastic pots to collect potable water from a water carrier.
This tragedy is narrated by another leader of the struggle, Mayilamma. No one knew the land better than her, as she had been working in the paddy fields ever since she came to Plachimada as a 14-year-old bride. Now she is leading the struggle for ensuring fresh water for the next generation.
Social conscience
If `Bitter Drink' announced the struggle to preserve ground water, `1000 Days and A Dream' pricks the social conscience. Protestors go on record to castigate political parties, media and society at large. The film also includes developments like the Kerala State Government's ban on production and sale of Pepsi and Coco-Cola in the State.
"Despite changing political stance of the activists, the struggle is continuing. Which means that this film is not complete," said Sarat. As the film says, it has to end somewhere. So it does at the end of 78 minutes.
"We want to make a Malayalam version of the film to be screened at Plachimada," says Saratchandran.
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