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Hi Folks,

On this rainy Northern California day (yes I miss my tennis, but yes we also need water so I can drink some and swim in some more), most people would think that I have lost it, if I write a post on film festivals and documentaries.

I am not about festivals and my only purpose to be involved in cinema is to write and see stories that can entertain (of course my definition of entertain is “thought provoke,” not necessarily, frivolous).

So why am I changing course now?

Actually I’m not, I have always maintained that documenatries and shorts need festivals (as they do the academic market) and while festivals may have become feature obsessed, the true “stars” of the festivals are these uncovered docs and shorts. And don’t get me wrong, I am not preaching here. I can tell you upfront, most docs and shorts, like most Mani Kaul and some Ray-although some are some of the finest I have seen anywhere, BORE THE HELL OUT OF ME, but there are docs and shorts which get my attention right away and like I’ve said, you can call it a feature doc, docu drama, docu whatever, it either captivates me, or I look for reasons to go to the restroom/eat frankie (in Mumbai) or hot dog (in Mtn View, CA).

These exceptional docs and shorts, like Nisha Pahuja’s Bollywood Bound, like Ashvin’s Little Terrorist, make it as “entertaining” an experience as watching a feature.

AND THEN THERE IS SARAH SINGH’s THE SKY BELOW

Classified as a Docu Feature, this is one product, which captivated me.

There are two subject matters where we as a filmmaking nation (aka India) have a pathetic record, as far as films are concerned.

a) War Films

b) Partition Films (sure Tamas, Earth to an extent and Train To Pakistan are exceptions), but by and large what we have are “high emotional melodrama pieces,” that try to substitute content by melodrama and tears.

The SKY BELOW attempts to fill the void created by b). It has some real life interviews and Sarah (based in NYC, born in Patiala, in a princely family, but by her own admission living on “borderline poverty” in NYC, after spending 3 years in India and Pakistan) has captured some very insightful and objective views, both this side of the border and that side.

Since the Indian Economy opened up and we have had changes in government, coupled with some publications coming into the hands of the British Library, what we are seeing is, that growing up a lot of what has been “fed” to us about partition, is not always the 100% accurate fact. In fact, politicians apart, at a common affected Indian and a common affected Pakistani level, there is a deep desire to rationalize and analyze what really happened there and also to take some inherent responsibility, as opposed to conveniently blame the British Raj, at all times.

I know, being the son of a family (from my father’s side) that had to move “overnight” from Lahore (although thankfully this was before I was born) and also having befriended some Pakistani Canadians and Pakistani Americans (as well as my interaction with them in Dubai, during my three years there), I know that the current generation, i.e. my generation, has moved on without as much a thought about the events of our predecessors, and that is good sign too, but at the same time, knowing more about this historical and deadly event, is also something that might ensure that it never occurs again.

More about the SKY BELOW: (WATCH IT AT THE SANTA BARABARA FILM FESTIVAL, AT 4:00 PM ON WED, JAN 30 AND AT 1PM ON FEB 2, 2008 - http://edhat.com/sbfilm08/theaters.cfm

The doc film “The Sky Below” was completed about 4 months ago in 2007.
It’s 75 min and features a contemporary portrait of Pakistan and
India.  Took about a year-and a half to complete.  Has been selected
for several festivals so far, including the Santa Barbara Film Fest
and Thessaloniki in Greece.  It has so far won an award at Film South
Asia in Kathmandu (largest doc fest for South Asia).

“A contemporary retelling of the myth and reality of partition. A
reclamation of the past by the present generation to move towards
resolution and thus redemption. A film alive with raw cinematic
energy, fractured narratives and instinctual editing.”
Jury members at Film South Asia

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2007/09/28/stories/2007092851390300.htm

http://www.hindu.com/mag/2007/11/04/stories/2007110450150500.htm

The Sky Below
Malavika Sangghvi—DNA NEWSPAPER
Tuesday, August 21, 2007  09:29 IST
Salaam Mumbai…

Sara Singh, the thirty- something, sometime Mumbai based daughter of a
Patiala prince and an American mother, has made an extraordinarily
insightful 75 minute documentary on Partition, titled ‘The Sky Below’.

Travelling from Kutch to Kashmir and Karachi to the Khyber Pass, with
two cameras, a sound recording unit and her back pack, and often
encountering life threatening situations along the way, Sara spent a
year and a half researching and editing the film interviewing some 75
odd people on both sides of the border along the way.

The film works on many levels, the cinematography is exquisite and her
usage of the songs of itinerant musicians gives it all an ethereal
quality. Of special interest is her footage of the Mohenjedaro and
Harappa archeological sites, and the cultures they foster.
Singh has held one screening of the film under the auspices of the
Asia Society last week to an appreciative audience. But it would be a
shame if schools and colleges missed out on the opportunity of seeing
this first hand unbiased eye witness account of life in Pakistan and
India. For more information on ‘The Sky Below’ write to her at
seetheskybelow@gmail.com
THE sky BELOW

a new film by Sarah Singh

narration by Sanjna Kapoor

From the shared, ancient history of the Indus Civilization, the people of the Northwest region of the Subcontinent have connections that go back millennia.

In 1947, the partition of this region resulted in a legacy of suspicion and a profound inability to reconcile this political divide.

In this feature documentary, a contemporary portrait of this region from Kutch to Kashmir, from Karachi to the Khyber Pass emerges by exploring

some of the ground realities of the lingering fallout; and most importantly, if reconciliation is possible between two countries

with interwoven histories, cultures, and faiths…after 60 years of strained relations and the ever-present, unresolved crisis in Kashmir.  

Featuring (from both Pakistan and India) first-person stories from the time of Partition, as well as former terrorists,

politicians, royalty, ordinary citizens, historians, and many others who share their insights of the past, present,

and future of this volatile, yet emerging, South Asian economic bloc. 

The film features a particular focus on some lesser known aspects of the Partition, as well.

Folk singers recorded live in their surroundings, found footage, reality based and conceptual location shooting,

still photography, and some archival footage are merged to emphasize the contrasted realities which compose

this culturally connected, yet politically disconnected, region.

PAKISTAN  Interviews (partial list)

Chdy. Pervez Elahi, CM of Punjab

Tahira Mazar Ali, prominent social and human rights activist, mother of Tariq Ali

Raza Kazim, prominent lawyer, dir. of SIPA

Dr. Mubashir Hasan, fmr. Finance Min and co-founder of PPP, member of Indo-Pak Track II diplomacy

Mira Philbaus, director of Kinnaird College

Majid Nizami, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of The Nation group of papers

Ayesha Jalal, prominent historian/author on history of subcontinent; Prof of History, Tufts University

Sharyar Khan, fmr head Pakistan Cricket Board, fmr. Ambassador, and direct descendent of Bhopal family of India

Salim Khan, director of National Documentation Centre, Islamabad

Ahmed Salim, director of SDPI and Coordinator of SARRC

Ibrahim Joyo, prominent intellectual and journalist

Comrade Sobho Gianchandani, legendary freedom fighter, author

Chacha Nawaz

Capt. Mansoor Khan

Khalid Aziz, fmr. Chief Sec. NWFP, chairman of RIPORT

Nadir and Abida Shah, relatives of Mohammed Yunus (Jawarharlal Nehru’s ‘adopted’ son)

Shujaat Ali, fmr. army commander

INDIA  Interviews (partial list)

Shiv Shankar Menon, Foreign Secretary

Raj Mata Patiala, Mohinder Kaur

K. Natwar Singh , fmr. Ambassador, fmr. Ext Affairs Minister, current Rajya Sabha member

Malwinderjit Singh Waraich, freedom movement historian and author, curator Chandigarh Portrait Gallery

Suraj Nehru, mother of Arun Nehru

Urvashi Butalia, author ‘The Other Side of Silence’

Ashis Nandy, senior fellow CSDS

Kuldip Nayar, journalist, social activist for Indo-Pak relations, author

Dr. Salil Misra, professor IGNOU

Tirath Ram Amla, fmr. member of Rajya Sabha (J&K)

Lt. Gen Kaul (Retd.)

Romila Thapar, historian

Mohini Bhullar, India Today

Pt. Yashpaul, AIR senior recording artist

Inderjit Singh Khalsa, lawyer, Chairman of Baba Farid College

Kanyalal Kewalramani, owner Sindhi TV

Pramod Kapoor, Roli Books publisher/owner

KASHMIR  Interviews (partial list)

Sofi Ghulam Mohammed, owner, publisher, and editor of Srinagar Times, MLA

Zahir Ud Din, editor of Greater Kashmir

Hashim Kureshi, fmr. terrorist, chairman of JKLDF

Major sites covered

Moenjodaro

Harappa

Dholavira

Katasraj

Khyber Pass

Dara Adam Khel

Taxila

Takht Bahi

Jain temples of Nagarparker and Gori

Bambore

Gurudwaras in Hassanabdal and Narowal

Umerkot Fort

Shrine of Shah Abdul Latif

Shrine of Seven sisters

Sadh Belo

Lahore Fort

Badh Shahi Mosque

Jama Masjid

Patiala Fort

Jaisalmer Fort

Wagah/Attari border ceremony

Faridkot Palace

Mardan Temple

Institute of Sindhology

Sincerely,

Vivek “now instead of Cash, Race, Superstar, Film Star, could we get someone to make a good feature on Partition and a genuine war film from India please” Kumar