Documentary filmmaker Shailendra Boora recently organized the Communal Harmony Film Festival in Hyderabad along with ‘We’mochana, VIBGYOR and Marupakkam. They screened documentaries like Ram Ke Naam, Pita Putra aur Dharamyudh, Godhra Tak and other socio-culturally relevant documentaries.

In this interview, he talks about the intention of the festival, his film Kandhamal Unresolved based on the anti-Christian riots in Odisha, and the state of documentaries in India.

How did your group ‘We’mochana come up with the idea to conduct a Communal Harmony film festival?

Considering communal ideas flowing in the country today, the Communal Harmony Fest is a response to Gharwapasi and church vandalism. With such continued actions, and victims of pogroms like Godhra being denied justice even now, we decided on engaging people with films that can create awareness on these issues. We are a small group that is trying to create an impact in our own way. This is the second film festival that we have conducted. We deal with issues relating to the environment, globalization, liberalism and communalism.

This edition of the festival was also a homage to Shubhradeep Chakravorty, the documentary filmmaker who passed away due to brain hemorrhage. His health condition was triggered by the stress he faced because his film In Dino Muzzafarnagar was not cleared, and banned by the censor board.

You made a documentary called Kandhamal Unresolved in 2013 based on the anti-Christian riots in Odisha, how much has changed since?

It is saddening that nothing much has changed since. Even recently, Praveen Togadia wanted to go there and spread more hatred. When he was not allowed, there was a huge strike in the district, which continues till the 4th of March. It only reflects that communal thoughts still exist there. No one has been punished yet in relation to the riots. The only constant is that the poor and the tribals, who have nothing to do with the killing of Swami Lakshmanananda, are still suffering. Also, the film has still not been screened in the region because there is always this fear.

You are a Christian, does your religious inclination have anything to do with the kind of work you pursue?

Christianity in India is in no way different than any other religion, it is deeply rooted in casteism just like Hinduism is.

Religion has nothing to do with my work, it is mostly my personal motivation that drives me. My religion is also as oppressive as any other religion. Christianity in India is in no way different than any other religion, it is deeply rooted in casteism just like Hinduism is. This is an issue I deal with in my film too.

Many documentary filmmakers like Anand Patwardhan, Rakesh Sharma and Shubhradeep Chakravorty have tried to reflect the prevalent communal scenario in India through their films, why do you think they have not had a mass impact?

It is because documentaries are mostly limited to a certain educated class of audience in India. The community lacks a network that can reach out to the grass roots. When people try to organize screenings of these films, they are irrationally questioned and given threats. There is no support from the government or other institutions.

There is a certain amount of fear among people to attend such screenings.

It is always dependent on someone’s help to conduct such screenings, and when someone does come forward, people conclude that they have an agenda or they are being covertly funded. Also, there is a certain amount of fear among people to attend such screenings.

Many of these films are critical of Hindutva outfits and the Bharatiya Janata Party, do you think a film like Ram ke Naam or Final Solution can be made and cleared when they are in power?

To be critical about these outfits has always been difficult, and now the situation has only gotten worse. Take In Dino Muzzafarnagar for example, which is still waiting to get a censor certificate, as the film still remains banned. It is not about the BJP as a party, but a group of people with a certain ideology. When such people are in power and hold key positions, it does become difficult to make and clear films.

Are you working on any project at the moment?

I have plans to make a film on migration of adivasis from Chattisgarh to Andhra Pradesh soon.

(This appeared in www.saddahaq.com)