Chennai: Over 30 international films with one theme — disability! That's what makes the India International Disability Film Festival so unique.
The film festival, for, by and about the disabled, kick-started on Friday in Chennai and it has already attracted over 200 entries for its short film contest titled '60 Seconds To Fame' — something that its jury by surprise.
Says filmmaker Govind Nihalani, "Everyone of them had looked at the subject with imagination and seriousness with the limited amount of resources available to them. I think they produced huge variety of view-points."
Actress and social activist Nafisa Ali is also a part of this eminent jury, a role that she takes quite seriously.
"I love to play the role before the camera, behind the camera, in my sport, in my politics, in my activism, in my fight for a secular India because it teaches me balance. It's very important to be balanced and grounded as a human being. And when there's manipulation or injustice or when you can make a difference, you must do it with honesty," says she.
Most importantly, the festival aims at breaking the stereotype about the differently-abled.
Says filmmaker Dev Benegal, "It's sad that most of the films — whether Bollywood or non-Bollywood — tend to treat people with ability issues in a kind of clichéd manner. There are movies that are either heart-wrenching or they are sad about it or they become an object of perverse humour. Bollywood is especially famous for it."
Adds cinematographer Ravi K Chandran, "In Indian films, we dramatise the whole issue. In fact any film you see, disability has been looked upon as a problem. They don't look at them as normal people."
Well, let's hope the film industry becomes more able about the disabled after this particular film festival, which should be an eye-opener for them.
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