Dear Friends,
Post-screening, we will have representatives of the protesting FTII students interact with us and add to our conversation over the film and our times.
Please reach in good numbers, spread the news and defeat the fascist forces trying to muzzle the voices of truth, justice and dissent.
For more detail please check our full approach statement below, and our facebook page - 'Cinema of Resistance'.
In solidarity,
Sanjay Joshi
National Convener, Cinema of Resistance
9811577426, thegroup.jsm@gmail.com
Kasturi
Convener, Kolkata, Cinema of Resistance
9163736863, cor.kolkata@gmail.com
Countrywide Protest Screenings in solidarity with voices of truth from Muzaffarnagar and Nakul Singh Sawhney's film 'Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai..'
On August 1st 2015 members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad exhibiting habitual hooliganism forcefully stopped the screening of Nakul Singh Sawhney-directed documentary, 'Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai..' at Delhi's Kirori Mal College. Videos witnessing this incidence of violent disruption of the screening can be seen in Facebook, Twitter and other social media.
'Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai…' is a documentary film that quite courageously reveals the conspiracy of the ruling class political parties which deliberated communal massacres to grab political power by-hook-or-by-crook, in their opportunist alliance with the new lumpen capitalist and feudal forces in the society during August-September 2013 in Uttar Pradesh. This documentary is significant in the times when the media, co-opted by the crony capitalist corporate forces, has turned into a fabrication machine than being the fourth pillar of democracy supposed to project truth and reality.
Narendra Dabholkar, veteran activist who fought vigorously against superstitions was brutally murdered in 2013. Artists of Kabir Kala Manch were put behind bars because their songs were considered seditious! In 2015, comrade Govind Pansare who ferociously blew away communal iconization of Shivaji, was assassinated in the daylight. Teesta Setalwad and Sanjeev Bhatt are continuously being framed and cornered by the state machinery. The same city of Pune where the innocent Mohsin Sheikh was lynched for wearing markers of his faith, also witnessed disruptions during the screening of documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan's iconic film, 'Ram ke Nam'. While the Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle faced a ban at IIT Madras; Tamil writer Murugan had to declare the 'writer' in him 'dead' under fascist pressures. Without any evidence an intellectual and teacher like G. N. Saibaba was incarcerated in Nagpur jail in precarious health conditions. FTII students struggling for their democratic rights were arrested at midnight and every force is used to try and crush their movement. Debaranjan Sarangi, a filmmaker and human rights activist from Odisha was framed with false charges. And on the other side killers associated with the Ranveer Sena and Bajrang Dal - who boasted of massacres on camera - were let go scot-free and let out on bail respectively. What do all these country-wide incidences suggest?
It appears that there has been a torrent of such incidences as mentioned above. Many a time we don't even get the information of prevalence of such repressions in different corners in India. It is possible to bring them in light only by building strong and united resistance against these dark times. This is precisely the reason why Cinema of Resistance does not look at incidence of muting 'Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai..' at Kirori Mal as an isolated incidence, rather it is observed as a dangerously fascist tendency that strangles the democratic spirit. Strong, committed resistance even by putting our lives at stake is the only possible mechanism to impede this trend. We take immense pleasure to share with you that this appeal of ours to respond by arranging countrywide protest screenings was welcomed from various corners of the country and till this date we are informed that this protest will be organized in 22 states, 50 cities/towns and with more than 60 screenings.
We appeal to all progressive and democratic spirited citizens, artists, and intellectuals, to expose fascist forces in this country by joining hands in this campaign of protest-screening of Nakul Singh Sawhney's film 'Muzaffarnagar Baaqi Hai…' on August 25th, 2015.
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ENTRY FREE AND OPEN TO ALL
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ABOUT US: Cinema of Resistance (Kolkata Chapter) organizes an annual film festival, called the Kolkata People's Film Festival, in January. Throughout the year, we organize monthly film screenings in Kolkata and also travel in Kolkata and its neighbouring districts (such as North and South 24 Pargnas, Hooghly, Howrah, Birbhum, Nadia etc.) to screen films and hold discussions/dialogues on invitation from non-funded like-minded groups, unions and organizations. We are particularly interested in screening amongst workers, women, children and young adults, civil society groups and folks in general who are allies of people's movements.
To organize a show in your locality please write to cor.kolkata@gmail.com, or leave a message at 9163736863. We will get back to you.
To join our initiative, please contact us in the manner above, or simply turn up at one of our screenings for a face-to-face chat!+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
A partial list of countrywide protest screenings
(A) On the country-wide protest day, 25th August
- Ahmedabad - students of IIM
<IIM Ahmedabad | 25 Aug>
- Banaras - Organized by All India People's Forum and Cinema of Resistance, Banaras chapter
<Swayamvar Vatika, outside Lanka Gate, Banaras | 25 Aug | 4 pm>
- Bangalore - Organized by Law and Society Committee, NLSIU, Bangalore
<Academic Block, National Law School of India University | 25th August | 9 pm>
- Bangalore - Organized by Amarkant and team
<Pixel B, Azim Premji University, Bangalore | 25th August | 4:30 pm>
- Bangalore - Organized by Khulamanch
<Cobalt Blr 46/1, 5th Floor, Church Street, Shanthala Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Opposite Hotel Empire, Bengaluru | 25th August | 7 pm>
- Bhagalpur - Organized by All India People's Forum
<Rajkeey Kalyaan Chhatravas No. 2, Bhagalpur University Campus | 25th August | 2 pm>
- Bhubaneshwar - Organized by All India People's Forum, Odisha
<Nagabhushan Bhavan auditorium | 25th August | 5:30 pm>
- Chandigarh - Organized by Cinema Of Resistance Chandigarh Chapter
<25th August>
- Chennai - Organized by Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle
<Spaces, Eliots Beach, Besant Nagar | 25th Aug | 6 pm>
- Chittorgarh - Organized by Cinema Of Resistance Chittorgarh Chapter
<25th August>
- Delhi - Organized by Cinema Of Resistance Delhi/NCR Chapter
<Gandhi Peace Foundation | 25th August | 5 pm>
- Delhi - Organized by Studio Safdar
<Studio Safdar and May Day Bookstore and Cafe | 25th August | 6 pm>
- Delhi - Organized by Aveksha - The theatre society of USS, Indraprastha University
<Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, C- block auditorium | 25th August | 3 pm>
- Dungarpur - Home Screening organized by Pragnya Joshi
<Pragati Nagar | 25th August | 5 pm>
- Faizabad - Organised by Jan Manch, Faizabad
<Tarang Cinema Palace, Faizabad | 25th August>
- Faridabad - Organized by Ideosync Media Combine
<Ideosync, H. No. 1381, Sector 37, Faridabad | 25th August | 3 pm>
- Gorakhpur - Organized by Cinema Of Resistance Gorakhpur Chapter
<25th August>
- Gurgaon - Organized by Chill Box
<Chill Box - 234/2, Opp main BSNL Exchange, Sector 12, Old Delhi Road, Gurgaon | 25th August | 7:30 pm>
- Jamshedpur - Office Screening organized by Kumar Gaurav
<Meeting Hall, AMG News. Super Market, Near Kagalnagar Petrol Pump, Sonari, Jamshedpur | 25th Aug | 5 pm>
- Kolkata - Organized by Cinema Of Resistance Kolkata Chapter
<Muktangan Rangalaya, Rashbehari Avenue | 25th Aug | 6 pm>
- Kolkata - Organized by students, professors, staff of Film Studies Department, Jadavpur University
<Film Studies Seminar Room, JU | 25th Aug | 3 pm>
- Kolkata - Organized by Democratic Youth Federation of India, Jadavpur-Tollygunge northeast local committee
<Open air, opposite Jadavpur supermarket | 25th August | 8 pm>
- Lucknow - Organized by Cinema of Resistance Lucknow Chapter
<Lenin Pustak Kendra, 82/118 Guru Govind Singh Marg, Bhedi Mandi, Lal Kuan | 25th August | 4 pm>
- Madurai - Organized by Makkal thirai, Chaplin talkies and Ilan Thamizhagam
<Venue: TBD | 25th August>
- Mathura - Organized by film society activists
<Venue: TBD | 25th Aug>
- Mumbai - Organized by Progressive Students' Forum, TISS, Mumbai
<25th August>
- Mumbai - Organized by Democratic Youth Federation of India, Powai unit
<People's Library, Powai | 25th August | 7 pm>
- Nainital - Organized by Cinema of Resistance Nainital Chapter
<Nainital Press Club (near Central Hotel), Mall Road | 25th August | 4 pm>
- Patiala - Organized by Gurmeet Singh and Nazia Dhanju
<Bhasha Bhavan, Patiala | 25th August | 5:30 pm>
- Raipur - Organized by students of National Law University, Raipur
<25th August>
- Shantiniketan - Organized by All India Students Association
<Purbapally, near Department of Mass Comm. | 25th Aug | 6 pm>
- Tiruchi - Organized by Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle, Tiruchi
<Venue: TBD | 25th August>
- Tuljapur - Organized by TISS Tuljapur Film Club
<Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Tuljapur | 25th August | 9:15 pm>
- Udaipur - Organized by Cinema Of Resistance Udaipur Chapter
<16/723, Ganesh Nagar, Pahada, Udaipur, between Sukhadia University main gate to Bohra Ganesh Mandir | 25th August | 6:30 pm>
- Vishakhapatnam - Organized by Human Rights Forum
<Visakha Public Library, Dwarakanagar | 25th August | 6 pm>
(B) On other days around 25th August
- Allahabad - Organized by Cinema Of Resistance Allahabad Chapter
<Auditorium, Allahabad Centre, Mahatama Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishvidyalay, Civil Lines | 22nd August | 4 pm>
- Azamgarh - Organized by Cinema Of Resistance Azamgarh Chapter
<Tahbarpur High School, Tahbarpur Bazaar | 22nd August | 5 pm>
- Bhopal - Organized by Ektara Collective, Vikalp Sanskritik Manch and Madhya Pradesh Mahila Manch
<Dushyanth Kumar Pustakalay, Opp. Platinum Plaza, Bhopal | 5th September | 5 pm>
- Delhi - Organized by Faculty Feminist Collective, JNU
<Room 229, SIS 2 (New Building) | 13th August | 5 pm>
- Gangtok - Organized by student groups
<5th mile, Tadong | 21st Aug | 4 pm>
- Howrah - Organized by Bajeshibpur Jubak Samiti
<Bajeshibpur Jubak Samiti Club | 15th Aug | 4 pm>
- Jalandhar - Organized by The People's Voice, Jalandhar
<Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall, Jalandhar | 23rd August | 5 pm>
- Kolkata - Organized by Center for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata
<CSSSC's Seminar Room, Patuli Campus | 21st Aug | 3 pm>
- Kottayam - Organized by Department Students' Union, Mahatma Gandhi University
<MGU Campus | 18th Aug | 2 pm>
- Nashik - Organized by Vikrant Bachhav
<Screening Hall, Abhivyakti Media, Kalyani Nagar, Anandwali Shivar, Gangapur Road, Nashik | 26th Aug | 4 pm>
- Pondicherry - Organized by Agora Discussion Forum, Pondicherry University
<Dept. of Mass Communication, PU | 26th Aug | 5 pm>
- Silchar - Organized by Udharbandh Cine Club
<Udharbandh Cine Club, Kachhar, Assam | 30th August>
- Sonepat - Organized by a student group in Ashoka University
<Ashoka University, Kundli, Sonepat | 20th August | 6 pm>