40 years after the Films Division was established, it is still to get the kind of recognition it deserves. It is undoubtedly one of the most neglected sectors, neglected by the authorities, by qualified and well-known filmmakers and technicians and the people of India. And yet a band of men and women are still filled with the fire, the dedication and the determination to carry on in the face of all odds.

What happened at Films Division in March 1998 has never happened during the last fifty years. It was a case of “never before”, a miracle in FD, which critics said was an abbreviation for ‘Found Dead’ and ‘Films for the Dead’. FD suddenly sprang back to life when 14 films produced by it won some of the most prestigious awards at international, national and state level film festivals. A function was organised to celebrate this rare festival of excellence. The union minister for state for information and broadcasting, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who attended the function, spoke about the great contributions made by Films Division in the promotion and development of the country in every field. He also congratulated FD and its chief producer, Bankim, on its recent successes. He said his government which had taken over in the 50th year of our Independence was making all efforts to excel in every sphere. He showed his appreciation for the efforts made by FD and expressed the hope that it would live upto its goal of growing in excellence during 1998 which is “the year of excellence at FD”. He also promised FD all help from his government, which, he said, was aware of the significance of films of all descriptions, whether documentary films, short films, animation films or feature films.

Naqvi further said: “The Films Division’s presence in the country is very crucial because it is in its vaults that India’s post-Independence history is stored in an audio visual format. It has over 10,000 newsreels, documentaries and animated films, made by its own staff and a number of other producers. It has the images and sounds that remind us of all the moments of joys and sorrows that the country underwent. The FD has contributed positively towards eradicating illiteracy and making people aware of the need for health and hygiene. The FD has also started producing films in video format, which is welcome, since it reflects the desire for technical upgradation. I am also happy to note that the FD has taken up the production of feature films, which immortalise important themes through the medium of simple and efficient stories. These stories will go a long way in bringing about the much-needed attitudinal changes. The fact that these films are made in regional languages, too, will ensure that they reach more people.”

Bankim, the chief producer said: “In a country like India, the FD faces newer and newer challenges to reach out to people, to disseminate information and knowledge about the basic facts of life — of literacy, of hygiene, of prevention and curative medicine, of the socio-cultural mosaic.” The FD is also exploring the medium of television for broadcasting its documentaries and short films. Naqvi assured the FD that he would try to see that the work done by the FD is shown on a regular slot on Doordarshan and other channels.

The spate of awards won by FD has given it a new and dynamic force. Many young talents are showing more interest in it, which is something that has never happened before. FD no longer means ‘Found Dead’, but ‘Found with a new Determination’. It could well be the beginning of better things to come at FD, where life was stagnant for years.

The following are the 14 FD films, which met with critical acclaim recently:

BHIWANDI TRAGEDY (14 mins): International Award — Golden Conch, MIFF ’98. Producer: Yash Chaudhary. Director: V Packirisamy. Best film of 40 minutes duration or less in non-fiction category, MIFF ’98. This documentary depicts the ghastly human tragedy following the food poisoning in the industrial town of Bhiwandi. 120 workers took ill soon after they had had their regular meals, and a spate of deaths followed.

JATANER JAMI (Jatan’s Land) (58 mins): National Award — Golden Lotus, Best non-feature film. Producer: Films Division. Director: Raja Mitra. The film very movingly narrates the story of Jatan, a poor landless agricultural labourer and his struggle to obtain a piece of land. He succeeds but the piece of land he gets is submerged in river water, of no possible use to Jatan, who has been betrayed.

NIRANKUSH (49 mins): National Award — Silver Lotus, Best educational/motivational/instructional film. Producer: Films Division & Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Director: Venu Arora. The film is a powerful dramatic narration of a young social worker’s endeavour to attack the deeper, social prejudices behind the heinous crime of female infanticide.

CANCER (15 mins): National Award — Silver Lotus, Best scientific film. Producer: Bhanumurthy Alur. Director: CKM Rao. This short documentary shatters many an outdated belief about cancer and gives useful information about its prophylactic and curative treatment.

AYURVEDA (9 mins): National Award — Silver Lotus, Best scientific film (including environment and ecology). Producer: D Gautaman. Director: Bhanumurthy Alur. An effective depiction of the ancient ayurvedic medicinal tradition in India and its re-absorption into mainstream medicine.

NATURE’S SENTINELS — BISHNOI (30 mins): National Award — Silver Lotus, Best environment/conservation/pre-servation film. Producer: YN Engineer. Directors: (Late) PC Sharma, Shankar Patnaik. Forceful portrayal of the little known Bishnoi community’s long-standing crusade for environmental conservation in Rajasthan. The film shows their deep rooted faith in conservation of nature.

SARANG — SYMPHONY IN CACOPHONY (17 mins): National Award — Silver Lotus, Best promotional film. Producer: YN Engineer. Director: Joshy Joseph. An inspiring documentation about a young couple’s commitment to revive a valley through organic farming. Sarang or the Substainable Agricultural Research and Natural Guidance is active in one of Kerala’s small villages.

POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT OF POTATO (22 mins): National Award — Silver Lotus, Best agricultural film. Producer: YN Engineer. Director: V Packirisamy. Very well researched, informative, and effectively communicative film, having immense practical value. It vividly explains the methods of preserving potatoes for a long time.

IN SEARCH OF EXCELLENCE (10 mins): National Award — Silver Lotus, Best exploration/adventure film. Producer: Kuldeep Sinha. Director: Raghu Krishna. This short film provides a vigorous and inspiring look at Maharashtra’s martially inspired popular sports including malkhamb.

THIRST (12 mins): National Award — Silver Lotus, Best investigative film. Producer: YN Engineer. Director: Swadesh Pathak. A hard hitting indictment of water scarcity that faces the tribal people living in Jawhar Taluka of Maharashtra’s Thane district.

THE SAVIOUR (11 mins): National Award — Silver Lotus, Best film on family welfare. Producer: Shaila Paralkar. Director: Shaila Paralkar. This animation film simply but dexterously communicates to people at large the fundamentals of child health care.

BANGLAR BAUL (5 mins): National Award — Silver Lotus, Best film on family welfare. Producer: Yash Chaudhary. Director: KG Das. Evocative exposition of family welfare issues employing the local folk and musical traditions (Sharing with The Saviour).

Dhanna (90 mins): National Award — Silver Lotus, Best film on other social issues. Producer: Films Division. Director: Deepak Roy. Poignantly narrates the story of a semi-retarded boy and his successful efforts in repairing a tubewell much to the surprise of everyone in his village.

SHE COULD DO YOU PROUD (4 mins): Maharashtra state award — Best documentary film. Producer: Arun Gongade. Director: Arun Gongade. An animation film which appeals for the prevention of female infanticide while suggesting a daughter could be an asset who could actually make her parents feel proud.