Amidst the din and glamour of big banner films capturing media attention with their star-studded show, small but significant steps taken by experimental films-makers in the city are seldom noted. ‘Chanda ke Joote’ (Chanda’s Shoe), a film that was produced by Bhopal-based Ektara Collective in 2011 was recently included in the syllabus of D. Ed (Diploma in Education) course in Rajasthan.
The film, which is based on real life experiences of a girl child living in a slum of the State capital who is admitted in a private school, will be shown to the future school teachers in the D. Ed. paper ‘Child and Childhood’ as a reference material. Alien in the upwardly mobile setting of the school, the girl feels like a misfit there. This feeling is further exacerbated by the apathetic attitude of the teachers and fellow students.
The film is different in many ways as Maheen, a member of the Ektara Collective and alumni of FTII, informed, “The story was originally written by the young girl, also lead character. Most of the actors were from the slums where it was shot. Besides, right from script to direction and post-production works, it is a participative work with no single person to claim exclusive credit.”
Notably, the film won the second prize in the National Award category at the International Short Film Festival of India in 2012 and was showcased at the 17th International Children’s Film Festival of India in 2011.