Film Description

January 26? 2001 : A devastating earthquake strikes Gujarat and leaves about 20,000 people dead and over 100,000 homes destroyed. This film is neither about the quake and its tragic aftermath nor about inadequate relief and rehabilitation. The film is a simple tale - the government controlled mining company GMDC sees the quake as God sent opportunity to acquire two quake-affected lignite rich villages without dealing with ?messy issues? like compensation, resettlement, alternate farmland and grazing rights etc. The film documents the process of acquisition/displacement and its human impact. It engages in the ongoing debate - Environment vs Development and examines the fate of marginal citizens in a welfare state making its transition into the New Economy of the new millenium. Above all, it is about Democracy as it is practiced at the lowest unit level ? the Indian village.

Awards : Le Prix de la Presse politique award for the best documentary film at the 16th Fribourg International film festival in Switzerland (March 2002). Bronze for best documentary feature, Big Muddy film fest (USA), April 2002, John Michaels memorial award, Big Muddy film fest (USA).
Festivals: Indian Premiere at Mumbai International film festival on Feb 9, 2002. Screened at the 26th HongKong International Film Festival (April 2002), Fribourg, Big Muddy, Calcutta Festival of Social Cinema(Feb 2002), Directors' View fest (USA), Bare Bones fest (USA), Festival Voces Contra el Silencio (Mexico), April 2002 , Dokfest Munich (May 2002), Beeld Voor Beeld film festival, Amsterdam (May 2002), Papua New Guinea international film festival, May 2002,Black International cinema festival in Munich/ Berlin/Dusseldorf (May-June, 2002). Invited to Downstream film fest, Zanzibar International film fest, Ecocinema 2002