A sensitive heart-warming story of an Indian transman's acceptance, by himself and his family. Merlin, born as a girl, felt right from his childhood that he was trapped in the wrong gender.
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A sensitive heart-warming story of an Indian transman's acceptance, by himself and his family. Merlin, born as a girl, felt right from his childhood that he was trapped in the wrong gender.
An anthology of Marathi Cinema from 1885 to 1980.
Who’s Sandra? If you saw her would you know her? Is she naughty or is she nice? And where is she anyway? This film takes a playful look at the figure of “Sandra from Bandra” – part covetous fantasy of the racy Christian girl from Bombay who works as a secretary, wears a dress and likes to dance; part condescending stereotype of a dowdy, religious girl from a minority community. The film searches for Sandra in Bollywood films, in the words of writers and poets, on the gravestones in Bandra’s churchyard. We encounter various claimants to the title – some who aren’t from Bandra and some who aren’t even called Sandra. Finally we find 5 women who really are Sandra from Bandra, each as different from the other as can be even if they are all a little bit the same.
A film about creating awareness for HIV/AIDS in truck drivers in India.
The film highlighted the importance of childhood education and sought to create awareness of early dropouts and child labour in Tamil Nadu.
Ghose’s first major film is a documentary about the 1974 Bengal famine, analysing how famines come about and chronicling their impact in the cities and the villages of India. Made on a Paillard Bolex by a group calling itself the ‘Joris Ivens collective’, it was one of the first Indian documentaries to face censorship under the Emergency. Much of the footage reflects Ghose’s preoccupation, later developed in his features, with people surviving on the margins of society.
Two men are in dialogue with each other. It's implied dialogue, an attempt to give structure to what lies beneath the surface, yet always brewing and active. Of course, there are women all around.
Retail is a 2500-year-old tradition in India with 95% of the trade being run by small entrepreneurs. But the retail scene in India is undergoing a rapid change. Malls are sprouting like mushrooms between huts and tenements. Everyone wants a piece of the pie. Mallamall is a visual and sensory portrayal of the burgeoning industry through the stories of people whose lives depend on retail.
Jhalana’s refuge, India's urban leopard habitat, is controlled by the strong and experienced Bahadur. But his dominance is being challenged – by his son, Rana! Once a quiet youngster, Rana has grown into an ambitious young male. But in the animal kingdom, power is not inherited – it is fought for with strength and persistence. Rana is not content with just securing his place; he wants more. To fulfill his ambitions, he forms a bond with one of his father's females, and what begins as a simple interaction soon turns into a powerful partnership. The aging Bahadur has held his territory for six years and will not tolerate his son's claim. Rana faces a decision: retreat or fight. But Rana follows his instincts.
Two sides of Mysore: down to earth with the field workers and an Indian spectacle for the Maharaja.
A prismatic meditation on pollution in the capital of the World’s biggest free-market democracy and the most polluted and populated city, Delhi – a film about the pollution inside of the human mind.
Kaifinama looks at the life and art of the Urdu Progressive poet Kaifi Azmi. Kaifi Azmi was both a poet for social change as well as one of the foremost lyricists in the Hindi film industry.
A social worker teaches her Indian village neighbours about clean, modern childbirth.
In "Char Shaher Ek Kahani" (1968), K.A. Abbas contrasts official images of India’s industrial progress with stark footage of urban poverty and Bombay’s red-light district. The 16-minute documentary became a landmark censorship case after the Central Board of Film Certification objected to its depiction of prostitution, leading Abbas to successfully challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.
In the world's only deaf-mute village where silence reigns, tension mounts as Misra Khatoon approaches childbirth. The villagers surround her home and beat drums seeking a response from the newborn.
The Film is on Subhash Chandra Bose, who founded the Indian National Army (INA) or the Azad Hind Fauz , of which he assumed personal command on 25th July, 1943 to fight the British imperialists. Its Supreme Command Headquarters was established at Rangoon.
Footage of the investigation documentary telling about the extermination of African elephants lasted almost three years. The film crew traveled throughout 30 countries to make a route of ivory smuggling and to find out the true culprit of these crimes against elephants.
Behind the Scenes of Shankar's Tamil sci-fi epic "Endhiran"
‘Free Flying' documents the journey of ‘Fly Squad' community in Kochi, Kerala. Their milestones as well as the smiles and pains along their journey – a little peek into the revolution on a skateboard.
This feature length documentary sheds a light on British presence in India from 1609 till 1947. The documentary aims to focus on the factors behind India getting Independence apart from the Freedom Movement by the National leaders.
In 'Queen of Vikretamandi, we follow the stories of three female street vendors in Mumbai. Each woman faces her own challenges but also enjoys her victories. The documentary shows their strength and hard work. It creates a close and powerful picture of how they survive and thrive in a busy city that is always awake.
The world is moving at a very fast pace. Everyone is running around, chasing something to achieve. But theatre artists are the ones who step away from all this rush and immerse themselves in their own small yet vast world. In each of their theatre journeys, leaving everything else behind, what do they truly gain? At every theatre festival, what mark do they carry back with them? What does the stage give them in return? *Ee Bhoominde Peru* (The Name of This Earth) is the story of a dream — the dream of a group of theatre artists who are often unseen and unnoticed by the mainstream world. This is not just the story of a single theatre troupe; it reflects the experiences of all theatre troupes across the world. It is about the little dreams and desires of theatre artists around us, which we often overlook. Vinesh Viswanath has captured these moments and shaped them into a documentary journey.
Year after year, just after the monsoon season has finished, thousands of families travel to a bleak desert in Gujerat, India, where they will stay for an endless eight months and extract salt from the earth, using the same painstaking, manual techniques as generations before them. Director Farida Pacha spent a season with one of these families, observing the very particular rhythms of their lives.
The film is a fragmented representation of an artist's experience at an art gallery where Wolfgang Lehmann, as a part of his masterclass, shows 2 of his films and in-between, a film by Kurt Kren.
Three generations of women, whose lived experience of migration is fundamentally different yet inextricably intertwined. What has been passed down from one to another is what connects them, but also precisely what sets them apart. With warm sincerity, this associative exploration of identity and memory interweaves family photographs, deep conversations, literary texts and playful performativity.
Pasi documentary drama is a historical documentation of common peoples thoughts in the situation of COVID 19 Lockdown 2020 at Tamilnadu, India
The film discusses the various aspects of Begum Akhtar’s life. She was also known as the “Gazal and Thumri Queen”. An intimate portrait, the film presents her in the domestic set-up of her home and as a formidable performer.
A film about home and belonging, tracing the filmmaker's personal journey to understand what it means to be a Muslim in India today.
In the annals of history, the victors have always held the pen. The Indian start-up story, a tale of triumph and innovation, is no different—crafted and curated by those who reached the pinnacle of success. We are mesmerized by the narratives of founders, their relentless drive, and the remarkable journeys that transform ideas into empires. Yet, what remains conspicuously absent from these grand narratives are the gray areas they traverse, the compromises they make, and the actions that, at best, raise questions and, at worst, cross the lines of legality and ethics. This documentary delves into the other side of the start-up dream: the harsh and often overlooked reality gig workers face. Through the voices of activists and organizations that fight for these workers, we uncover the nature of gig work, the gaping void in regulatory protections, and the profound apathy of ordinary citizens like you and me.
What can even go wrong when Mr. G. R Indugopan tries starting his morning productive by finishing his writing assignments, when a self-proclaimed "fan" barges into his workspace, asking unwanted questions !?
Takes the audience behind the artistry, intellectual spirits, and production of the second season of the holy grail of Indian sitcom.
Moti Khan, a musically gifted child from the lower caste Muslim Manganiyars of the Thar Desert, is forced to sing and play music for their ancestral patrons in order to survive, even though he finds it humiliating. Sattar, his father, wants Moti to study and make a career outside music. But Moti aspires to be a successful singer so that he is treated respectfully. He leaves his village behind and sets out on a journey to discover his music.
An insight into the life of late writer-director Rituparno Ghosh, the iconic cultural figure from West Bengal (India), who pushed and transgressed the boundaries of sexuality, feminism, and freedom of thought. The film is about an artist's relationship to his city Calcutta and is based on his personal memoirs, archival material, and conversations with cast, crew, and family.
What kind of democracy does India have today? Using Gandhi’s famous Dandi salt march through Gujarat as a starting point, this road-movie style documentary looks at contemporary India, the world’s biggest democracy, and explores the significance of the Gandhian legacy of peace and non-violence for democratic movements in the twenty first century.
Zende follows the 82-year-old retired assistant commissioner of police in Mumbai, Madhukar Zende. The man who nabbed the infamous serial killer, Charles Sobhraj – twice. But Sobhraj is only a minor part of Zende’s colourful life. Through the eyes of this iconic cop, the film explores the history of Bombay and its various crimes spanning four decades.
A young woman, Srishti Bakshi embarks on a monumental journey, walking almost 4000km over 240 days, from Kanyakumari in the south, to Kashmir, in the North, along the way meeting and learning first hand about the experiences of many women from all corners of India. WOMB is a poignant and heart warming documentary exploring the social and political issues faced by women of today’s India. It is a unique testament to seemingly insurmountable challenges in these unprecedented times and the everyday sheroes who are battling to overcome.
This short-film was made by Amit Dutta to encapsulate some essential teachings of Kashmir Shaivism as taught by Bettina Sharada Baeumer. The film was shot at Indian Institute of Advanced Study (Shimla) in 2016.
A 1986 Bollywood film.
A short documentary produced by the Indian Ministry of Information that looks at some statues and miniatures dealing with poetic Indian legend.
A documentary on legendary Malayalam literary icon Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer.
The documentary film is about the Film and Television Institute of India including the views expressed by students, staff and Ex-Director Shri Jagat Murari. The filmmakers from the institute are 'Rays of Hope' for the alternative or New Indian Cinema.
An examination of India’s family planning program from the point of view of the women who are its primary targets. It traces the history of the family planning program and exposes the cynicism, corruption and brutality which characterizes its implementation. As the women themselves discuss their status, sexuality, fertility control and health, it is clear that their perceptions are in conflict with those of the program.
Since Narendra Modi first took office in 2014, 47 people have been killed in cow-related hate crimes in India. 76 percent of those who died were Muslim. Asmeena mourns the death of her husband, a dairy farmer named Rakbar, who was allegedly murdered by “cow vigilantes.”
The film is a compendium of several anecdotes, memories and observations of people who were directly involved in the making of Satya. At the same time, it presents views and commentary on Satya's legacy from people within the industry, whom Varma's film has greatly impacted.
Journalists and fans await Ma Anand Sheela as the infamous former Rajneesh commune's spokesperson returns to India after decades for an interview tour.
To commemorate the anniversary of Operation Sindoor, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh released a documentary film on Operation Sindoor . Iit talks about the nefarious designs of Pakistan over a period of time, against the innocent people of India, and India's national resolve to strike back with precision and accuracy without collateral damage. The whole nation approaches jointness, self-reliance, and indigenisation, ensuring victory. It projects a shining example of political will and integration of forces
Interweaving the folk music traditions of the mystic poet Kabir with the life and music of the late Indian classical singer Kumar Gandharva, this film searches for that elusive sound, that "jhini si awaaz", that Kabir urges us to hear. Where does it resonate, that subtle sound? Journeying between folk and classical, oral and written, rural and urban expressions of this 15th century mystic poet of north India, the film finds moments of both continuity and rupture between these disparate worlds.
Early film of a crowded street scene in an unidentified Indian city.
Amateur film showing daily life in Bundi, India.
An intimate portrayal of Suvana Sudeb, a transgender person, who undergoes Gender Affirmative Surgery in order to negotiate the conflict of body and mind. This decision creates turmoil in her family, who fear societal backlash. As love remains elusive as always, Suvana realises that the surgery could not change her destiny, forcing her to reconcile with reality anew.
Off-camera, a Western traveler tells us of hearing singing from his hotel window in Bombay. He searches for the source, and discovers a caste of street performers, eking out a modest living. We see individuals and groups, old and young, snake charmers and those hired to sing at family celebrations. A few talk about their lives and refute accusations of kidnapping lodged against the caste. A troupe of women sing at a party for a pregnant woman - they are saucy and blunt, encouraging and sisterly.
Amateur footage of the devastation caused by one of South Asia's worst earthquakes.
Inspired by movies, a young girl from the Banjara tribe in rural Maharashtra fights for her dream of becoming a kabaddi player to escape a forced marriage. During a district-level tournament, she slips into a Bollywood-tinted dream, momentarily becoming the hero she’s always imagined.
A memoir celebrating yesteryears of cinema and how silver screen has evolved over the years, this documentary is ode to cinema by the audience, for the audience.
Ambika has just come to know that she has failed once again, and she will not be given any more chances. At first, she leaves the city for her home in another city. But very soon the city takes over and her confusions return even more intensely this time.
GUDISAI is an inspiring indie musical documentary that chronicles the vibrant journey of aspiring artists in the open mic scene. Set against the backdrop of Chennai's thriving music culture, the film captures heartfelt performances, personal struggles, and the transformative power of creativity. Through a series of candid interviews and electrifying live sessions, GUDISAI showcases the resilience and passion of musicians as they navigate their paths from rejection to success, highlighting the importance of community, art, and self-expression. Join us in celebrating the raw talent and unwavering spirit of indie artists as they take the stage and share their stories.
An ordinary day in the Indian hinterlands. A land surveyor dreams of his village where trees are being numbered and the radio forecasts a thunder storm.
Alvina visits her late Grandfather’s House, on the 5th anniversary of his demise. She and her grandmother bond over their memories and affection towards him. As they spend slow afternoons together, talking about him, his patriarchal tendencies begin to surface. Alvina speaks to her father, and a childhood of fear and tyranny surfaces in her father’s recollections. Her grandmother’s experiences as a woman and a wife are colored by the same tyranny. These well kept secrets only had the tree outside the balcony and the walls of the house as witness, and their burden brings the house to life, and makes the tree restless.
A doctor and party visit the villages of eastern Manipur in India's far north east.