68 pages - Website

 

We have a new WEBSITE.
http://www.humsafar.org/68pages.htm
Check out Trailers, Song, Audience Reactions and a lot more!

Go on, browse around and let us hear your feedback.
Cheers and stay tuned.

 

68 Pages won the Silver Remi Award at Worldfest

68 Pages won the Silver Remi Award at Worldfest 2008, Houston, USA.
This is a fabulous encouragement to motivate us to reach the film further.

The film would be distributed soon and DVDs will be available in a couple of months.

 

Global Themes with an Indian Outlook - Future of Indian Cinema

International Film Festival of Kerala 2007

Sridhar Rangayan with Naseeruddin Shah & Dr.Jabbar Patel

Global Themes with an Indian Outlook - Future of Indian Cinema
Report: Roseliz Francis

‘Contemporary Indian Cinema - Challenges and Prospects’ was the theme of the second edition of the Open Forum of the 12-IFFK. the panelists were veteran Indian actor Naseeruddin Shah, noted Filmmakers Jabbar Patel, P.T.Kunjumohammed and Sridhar Rangayan, and the moderator was Unnikrishnan B.

Naseeruddin Shah felt that the conundrum of what exactly is ‘Indian’ was the real bone of contention. He stated that contemporary Indian cinema was synonymous with Bollywood and this was not a positive trend. While the films from the other regions of India were isolated he predicted that the fascination with these clichéd ’song and dance sequences’ would soon die out.

Noted filmmaker Jabbar Patel opined that it was the content of Indian cinema accessible to the world that should be focused on. he added it was the onus of the upcoming filmmakers to create meaningful cinema as against mainstream Bollywood cinema. he said that ‘Middle Cinema’ will continue the new wave generated by parallel cinema earlier on. Parallel cinema lacked genres while gaining expertise on specific themes. Middle cinema will transcend these limitations.

Sridhar Rangayan gave an overview on the struggles of ‘underground’/'queer’ film makers to deal with contemporary themes. Though the digital trends were a boon, he said production and distribution expenses and censorship have curtailed the wings of the new age Indian film makers.

P.T.Kunjumuhammed said how it is an inferior mindset that has caused many a regional film not reaching a global audience.

Source: Official Bulletin for IFFK 2007, Dec 10.

Cinema of / at the Margins

International Film Festival of Kerala 2007

Sridhar Rangayan with Chilean filmmaker Miguel Littin

It’s time to state propositions to break the infernal walls that marginalize
Report: Roseliz Francis

Politics, race, religion, economics, sexuality and regional differences; it was a kaleidoscope of images on marginalization that came from the panel of the first seminar of the 12th IFFK held at Hotel Horizon on ‘Cinema of / at the Margins’. The illustrious panel consisted of Chilean filmmaker Miguel Littin, UK based filmmaker Horace Ove, Indian filmmakers P.T.Kunjumohammed and Sridhar Rangayan and film critic V.C.Harris.

An animated debate to define ‘who’ or ‘what’ is marginalized created a vivacious ambience. Miguel Littin said it was necessary to locate the center to be able to define the margins. Speaking of Latin American Cinema he said that there were several constraints on independent and woman filmmakers. he spoke about the dynamics of economics in cinema from third world countries. the fact that only six to seven films were produced in a country like Chile was attributed to the limited access to technology and the constraints in raising funds to produce and distribute films, which are also effected by the political resolutions of a state. He highlighted that it was the access to resources like capital and technology that sought immediate attention. he said that the cultural ambassadors of a country should facilitate an open market for cinema sans censorship. he envisioned a platform where the Latin American filmmakers shared a platform with Italian, French and Third world counterparts to emancipate the marginalized. He said it was “time to state propositions to break the infernal walls that marginalize”.

Sridhar Rangayan, director of ‘68 Pages’, voiced the subjugation of the ‘Queer’ filmmakers, who are themselves marginalized. He said that it was not the number, but the content of films that mattered. Though India produced over 1000 films a year, they fail to give a voice to the marginalized. He was talking of the homosexuals and transsexuals in particular. He added that the language of cinema today has to adhere to certain stereotypes to appeal to the masses. This adherence led to these oppressive classes being doubly stigmatized. He added that transgender characters were carved out in films only for dramatic conveniences and not for emancipating them. He criticized popular cinema like ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’ for ridiculing homosexuality but was highly appreciative of the Malayalam movie ‘Sancharam’, ‘My Brother Nikhil’ and ‘Fire’ for breaking conventions in portraying such issues. His was a clarion call for filmmakers to “make cinema rooted in reality and to make the marginalized more visible”.

P.T.Kunjumohammed said it was his brief stint in Dubai in the early 70s that inspired him to defend his culture through his films as a defiance of the then existing European standards in cinema. In his ‘Pardesi’ he has tried to inculcate the singular voices of many who are marginalized.

Horace Ove, an independent filmmaker based in UK, opined that making independent films is not easy. All those who are ready to experiment should collaborate to form an autonomous film movement which could depict the political and social issues of the marginalized world over.

Film critic Dr.V.C.Harris spoke of marginalization at various levels. he spoke of the dominance of Hollywood films at the universal level; Bollywood being synonymous with Indian Cinema where regional cinema is marginalized and within regional films the upper hand that popular films have over parallel cinema. he also echoed Littin when he expressed “the need to establish a center to identify the margins”.

A counter statement from a participant that margins no longer existed in cinema today took the discussion to the next level. However, all the panelists held that though anybody can make films today, the crux of the predicament lies in the reach of these films to a global audience.

Source: Official Bulletin of IFFK 2007, Dec.10

Kerala fest pictures

A mosaic of pics from the 12th International Film festival of Kerala where 68 Pages was screened.

Film India Worldwide Nov 2007-Jan 2008

We are pleased and honoured to be part of the exclusive selection of films collated by the magazine Film India Worldwide in their section Festival Touchstone (page 21)

Text Excerpt :

68 Pages

Sridhar Rangayan

Selected for the 2007 Kerala festival, this digital film depicts individual stories of pain recorded in HIV/AIDS counsellor Mansi’s diary. After a broken love affair, the career-minded Mansi joins a community health centre where her clients include gay and trans-gendered men. She also works alongside sex workers and IDU users at a leading psychiatrist’s clinic and the local municipal hospital. Based on reflections of true-life incidents and characters, the film’s concept was born within these communities with the help of NGOs working with them.

Mansi’s recorded stories deal with five HIV positive persons from different high risk groups, gay, transgender, sex worker and drug user, whose lives change dramatically when they learn of their status. the 90-minute film’s cast includes Mouli Ganguly, Joy Sengupta, Zafar Karachiwala, Jayati Bhatia, Uday Sonawane and Abhay Kulkarni. Co-scripted by Vivek Anand and Sridhar Rangayan, its cinematography is by Shubransu Das and music by xen@bob - the fusing of two music groups Nexus and Band of Boys.

The film is produced by The Humsafar Trust, (since 1994 this male sexual health agency has provided diagnostic, counselling and treatment facilities to people from the gay and transgender communities) in association with Solaris Pictures. Director Rangayan, a graduate of IIT-Mumbai, has directed / scripted award winning films, among them the notable Gulabi Aaina, a film on Indian transsexuals and Yours Emotionally! a queer journey through India. Managing to combine advocacy and entertainment in his films, Rangayan runs Solaris Pictures in partnership with Saagar Gupta.

World Premiere of ‘68 Pages’ @ International Film Festival of Kerala

World Premiere of ‘68 Pages’ at the International Film Festival of Kerala, Trivandrum on December 9th.

The film screens again on December 13th.

The show timings are:
Sunday 9 December, 11.30am at KalaBhavan
Thursday 13 december, 3.00pm at Shree Theatre

Festival website: http://www.keralafilm.com/

Wolds AIDS Day screenings of 68 Pages

Film ‘68 Pages’ is screening across more than 10 venues in the coming fortnight to mark the World AIDS Day. The schedule is as below :

68 Pages Schedule for 1st to 15th December 2007
Friday, 30th November 2007
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai
06:00PM - 09:00PM
For: Counselors of Gujarat SACS

Saturday, 01st December 2007
Alliance de Francaise, New Delhi
4.30pm - 6.30pm
For: Donor Agencies and various stakeholders

Saturday, 01st December 2007
SNDT University , Mumbai
02:00PM - 04:00PM
For: Students of SNDT University

Tuesday, 04th December 2007
Khalsa College, Mumbai
02:00PM - 05:00PM
For: Students of Khalsa

Wednesday, 05th December 2007
Mithibhai College, Mumbai
03:00PM - 06:00PM
For: Students of Mithibai

Thursday, 06th December 2007
Jai Hind College, Mumbai
03:00PM - 06:00PM
For: Students of Jaihind

Friday, 07th December 2007
The Humsafar Trust Vakola DIC, Mumbai
06:30PM - 09:00PM
For: MSM and TG Population

Saturday, 08th December 2007
Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) Auditorium, Thane
06:00PM - 08:30PM
For: Municipal Corporation officials

Wednesday, 12th December 2007
Thane Engineering College Auditorium, Thane
02:00PM - 05:00PM
For: Students of Thane Engineering College

Thursday, 13th December 2007
St. Pius College Auditorium, Mumbai
02.00PM - 05.00PM
For: Senior Citizens of Mumbai

Screening for Donor agencies and NGOs

Date: 11th October, 2007 Venue: Juhu Jagruti Hall

An exclusive screening of the film was held at Juhu Jagruti Hall, NMIMS for the staff members of donor agencies and partner NGOs/CBOs. There were representatives from MDACS, Avert Society, FHI, FPAI and SOSVA.

After the screening the audience gave a standing ovation to the film and its entire team. Sanjeev Jain said “bravo we all are speechless”, Sanjeev Gaikwad said “After a long time I have cried watching a film, it really hits”. After the screening most of the audiences were moist eyed. Uma Mehta said that she is highly touched with the line at the end that says “a warm salute to all counselors”.

Most of them felt that each character was well established and leave a mark at the end. Vivek Anand, CEO Humsafar, informed everyone that this film will also be used as a tool to supplement the efforts of NACP III as an advocacy tool to sensitize on the issues of MSM/TG.

All the counselors who came for the screening felt that this movie should not be limited to NGO/CBO it should be watched by everyone in the society as the message in the movie needs to be reached out, so that we more students would like to make their career in counseling. Most of the counselors felt this movie can also help to understand the MSM/TG issues and how to counsel them. This movie should be used by SACS and other funding agencies in their trainings for counselors.

Some comments -

Please accept my congratulations for a landmark film produced by the Humsafar trust. The deeply touching way in which the film spools out and the characters bring to life real issues being faced by people, the human dimensions, the message of hope and the way it leaves you moved, yet hopeful at the end is beyond description. Excellent script, direction, casting, performances, research and topicality have been blended effectively.
Dr.Sanjeev Singh Gaekwad
Director - Maharashtra, Family Health International

Very sensitively made, realistic in it’s portrayal and true to the emotions that exist in such situations. Each story was well defined with equal emphasis given to the central and supporting characters. Strongly brought out the complex circumstances that HIV/AIDS brings into individual’s lives as well as the turmoil of learning one’s HIV positive status. The film beautifully showed a relationship between 2 men as it truly is and most importantly, without sensationalization which will make general viewers more open. You leave the film with an understanding of the issues involved but with a clear sense of hope
Amrita Bhende
Programme Officer, Family Health International

It was indeed a wonderful film depicting the vital role of a counselor in HIV testing of clients and further providing psychological support to those found positive. The film truly illustrated how a counselor goes beyond her/ his duty and becomes a friend-in-need to those who are rejected or have fear of rejection by the society. I think the film will not just be praised by NGO sector or marginalized communities but will definitely be liked by general people as well. One small point that I felt was not correctly portrayed was that the Counselor tells Nishit (drug addict) that his HIV test was done from a reliable lab by his company (that means one test had confirmed his HIV positive status). I think it would have been better to suggest him to go for second test to confirm his HIV positive status.
Anjali Singh
Training Officer, Family Health International

Let me first thank you for inviting us for the special screening of 68 pages. Personally after ages I have seen a film that touches a chord in my soul. I was deeply touched by the sensitivities in the film and the near perfect portrayal of characters by the mainstream actors. Technically your team has done a fantastic job and though this film being a narrative, it had all the ingredients of captivating the audience, and I was not an exception. For me this wasn’t just another viewing of a film but an experience that I would always cherish.

Being from a public health background, I cannot overemphasize the importance of a counselor’s role in shaping up lives of million people around you. And I am glad this film has provided a platform and given due respect to the breed of counselors which they have always deserved but were the unsung heroes of the medical fraternity.

This is also an eye opener for counselors, health care providers and the general population that a counselor if decides to perform the job expected out of them, they can provide million reasons for people to live with hope and dignity.

Counseling is much more than just providing health information or a basket of choices but its more about swapping the position of a counselor and a counselee to understand the emotional turmoil a beneficiary can be in. It’s not just a scratch of the skin talk but getting emotionally involved with the clients and making them feel that they are also an integral part of the society and providing reasons for them to be proud of.

Sridhar has done a fabulous job and have shown great courage in touching a subject which has always been a taboo. I hope this film will go a long way in educating masses and dispelling their fear regarding sero - positive people and help in reducing discrimination.

…………… breathtaking, captivating, motivating emotional saga is my only reaction to 68 Pages.

Well done. Cheers!!!!!!
Dr.Sachin Gupte
Senior Technical Officer, Family Health International

 

As an M & E person I must first commend the hard work the counselor who has documented all her valuable experience which provides rich data for further learning. I keep introducing myself to many people as an M & E officer who loves to “Speak to data”. Here is an example how a “data can speak for itself” and can make world of difference in lives of many. This is greatest respect for all the counselor who are working hard for making difference in the lives of many vulnerable population. According to me counselor position in HIV prevention and care and support programme is most crucial but has a factor of burnout. This is a real motivator for all those who are putting a lot of work.

Kudos to humsafar team which has worked hard under your leadership and not to forget the film crew under the leadership of Sreedhar in making this a truly memorable experience for all of us.
Virupax Ranebennur
M & E Officer, Family Health International

 

Thank you for using your very creative brain and bringing out the raw realities of life with a clear light of hope that life does not stop here it goes on and the dreams can be accomplished.

My next request will be that please look at the various sources of taking this forward to the larger masses, forums, civil societies and the 2% Decision makers, that we need to do things urgently with zeal and dedication.

It seems that I am exhausted with my limited knowledge of words to describe the penetration and impact of the film on me. I am still speechless and in discomfort.

May God bless you and the whole team for the quality research, the story and the planning.
Sanjeev Jain
Senior Programme Manager, Family Health International

 

Thank you for such a excellent film. I think the Counselors should learn few things through this film. One is that the Counselor in the film balanced her personal and professional life well. At times when she was going through her emotional problem, she never became weak nor did she make her clients become weak. Thanks again for a very good film.
Ashish Bosle
Programme Officer, FHI/FPAI Aastha Project

 

The Film was brilliant! Issues have been dealt with such sensitivity and depth. This film should definitely become ‘compulsory’ viewing in all counseling and HIV/AIDS related training programs.

I sincerely hope that you are able to get a commercial release. Wishing you and the HST team the very best …always.
Amita
Senior Project Manager, FHI/FPAI Aastha Project

 

Thanks for the screening. Great Work! The movie inspires us to do more. Its all about how our efforts and gestures can bring a change in others’ life. I was touched. Congrats to the team.
Seema Sayyed
Programme Officer, FPA India, Aastha Project

 

The film is wonderful, which will touch the heart of everyone. It is a very powerful film.
Swati Mohapatra
IEC/BCC Coordinator, Avert Society

“In short time lots of issues covered. Also helped to accept those who are not accepted by others. Great movie.”
Pradnya Kharate | Technical Officer, SOSVA

“It is excellent movie, which I seen first time, Good for everything.”
Pramod Shinde | Project Coordinator, NSVK

“Excellent movie, I really enjoyed. It touched to my heart, all the best.”
Rukpali Goswami | Counselor, CDI

“Excellent. Life changing, attitude changing towards High Risk Groups. It should published to all the communities. It should released in theaters”
Gaikwad | Project Coordinator, Hope Foundation

“The movie was great, I want to give suggestion to you, if possible to put one meeting for all counselors and show this film to them. Great movie”
Jyoti Kasbe | Counselor, Lokparishad

“One of the most wonderful film.”
Pramod |Humsaaya

“A good film, which can be used to sensitize the mass about HIV issues. Good work”
Rama Bhave |Documentation Officer, Family Health International

“Thanks for providing such a good looking face, as a counselor. After watching the movie, I am realizing the responsibility.”
Shabana Sheikh | Counselor, SAI

“Today I think, How I am.”
Prashant B. Shirsath | Advocacy Officer, CORO

“Excellent Movie, A must see for the masses.”
Dr. Vidyamala | Technical Officer, Family Health International

“Good work done by research team as well as crew members, casting in film. It made us feel so touchy and we all were speechless”
Riji Nair | Programme Officer, Family Planning Association of India-Aastha Project

“It is just excellent movie. The best part is counselor’s role and the song.”
Sachin R Katlear | Project Coordinator, NSP

“Excellent Movie”
Aashish A Sabale | Advocacy Officer, SAI

Pix from the screening for stakeholders

You can view the pictures and download it at: http://picasaweb.google.com/68pages/ScreeningForDonorsNGOsAndOtherStakeholders