BHARATI PAWASKAR
Unfair’ is a collective voice. It is the philosophy of 56 people from various strata of society who come forward to speak out their heart and mind. The 52-minute film has a loud and clear message for today’s young audience who have short span of attention. It is about a discussion that is often carried out in whispers and privately. “I want the people from all walks of life to watch this film and discuss openly,” states Wenceslaus aka Wency Mendes who has taken the lead to produce and direct the film and take it to the communities in various Indian states and abroad.
Not taking the entire credit for making this film on the fiery topic of the division between humans on the basis of colour, caste, class, race, religion, ethnicity or gender, Wency shares the credit liberally with his team that made it possible to interview 160 people across India. “I want to have panel discussions after every screening as our aim is not to limit it to only watching and carrying the message home. We expect the audience to participate in discussions over the issues of un-fairness, inequality and injustice that the film highlights,” says Wency.
Chosen for the History Hour movie screening at Xavier Centre of Historical Research on May 2, the film ‘Unfair’ has been virtually screened on February 23 at New School, New York in the US on the request of a professor who runs online political blog on Africa with an-hour-long live discussion.
“In India, we have shown it at Conflictorium, an interactive museum with exhibits designed to facilitate dialogue about historical conflicts via art at Ahmedabad in Gujarat. This is the third screening that will be in Goa at Xavier Centre of Historical Research, Porvorim, also followed by an open discussion,” briefs Wency, adding, “Albeit, the film is selected for international festivals too but our main aim is to show it in those spaces where communities gather. The film had small screenings before the African communities at Greater Noida (New Delhi) and Guwahati too. In Goa, it will be shown at African Restland in Taleigao on May 3. Probably, it will be telecast on national television screens too.”
Self-funded for the first three-and-a-half-years of production, ‘Unfair’ got a grant by the Public Service Broadcast Trust, a body that works in association with the Information and Broadcast Ministry, government of India. What is this film about that the producer-director demands a discussion on? The film ‘Unfair’ does not comment, it generates questions! It stirs one up mentally and forces to raise questions.
There was a lot of research and legwork that the entire team had to undergo and the process was lengthy but enriching, recalls Wency who mentions that they scrutinized the construct of beauty and its practices in Indian society and dissemination through various media. While highlighting the socio-cultural aspects of ‘race theory’ the team examined its construct and further in relation to the constructed ‘biological body’. Going as far as discussing with dermatologists how the body, skin and its colour emerge through epidemiology, ecology, environment and climate, Wency even met genetic scientists who shared their knowledge through anthropological surveys of the ‘Siddhi’ community.
“We further traced the sharing and intermingling of culture, arts and music between the African continent and the Indian subcontinent since 4C BCE (recorded history). Our intent is to ‘screen’ learnings from interactions between the different and divergent cultures that emerge,” spells Wency.
Today one witnesses an increased spate of violence based on racial prejudices and discriminations across the country, which creates an urgent need to reveal and dispel popular myths, racial stereotypes and public justifications for ‘other’ dialogues and conversations to emerge. ‘Unfair’ is expected to do that job.
“We wish to break the popular myths that are deep rooted in our psyche. One cannot stamp something on the entire community on the basis of singular examples. We have to be ‘fair’ and ‘just’ in our thoughts, words and actions, when we are dealing with human beings be they from any community or society and change our perception of beauty for good,” concludes Wency.
