Independent filmmaker Tathagata Ghosh’s Dhulo makes its way to Germany

The film will be screened at the prestigious 23rd Independent Days/Film fest at the Schauberg Filmtheatre in Germany.,

Independent film director Tathagata Ghosh creates a buzz yet again with his 25-minute short Dhulo, meaning scapegoat. The short has been shortlisted for a screening at the prestigious 23rd Independent Days/Film fest at the Schauberg Filmtheatre in Germany. The offline event is scheduled to be held from September 22 to 26. The socio-political drama by Ghosh has already won several accolades at prestigious film festivals such as the Big Muddy Film Festival of the United States, the World Cinema Shorts competition held at the Phoenix Film Festival in the United States, River Film Festival in Padua in Italy, and Bagri Foundation London Indian Film Festival.

The plot hinges on a feminist tale of a fiery woman who, while caught in the web of patriarchal mores in the politics of hate in rural Bengal posing danger to her life, decides to raise her voice and in the process, discovers her inner strength. Touted as a narrative of feminist awakening, Dhulo stars Payel Rakshit, Shimli Basu, Bimal Giri, and Ali Akram as the lead cast. The discerning filmmaker has gone on record to say that the hard-hitting short depicts the harsh realities underlining the political conflicts for power.

Watch the trailer here.

In his statement to media in June this year, Ghosh had recounted how the film has stemmed from the contemporary socio-political milieu in Bengal, and India at large. “Many Indians, especially the minorities, feel threatened at every step of their way,” he said while expressing concern on the rise in the number of crimes against women. Noting that ‘bigotry and patriarchy walk hand in hand’, and how most women don’t feel safe while out on the streets, he added that it is more unsafe for women in small towns and villages. Women, while sick of the voyeuristic and even predatory ‘male gaze’ that is cast on them in public, are still having to live with it all. Haunted and troubled by this grim reality, is how he developed the subject for his short. The film is a mirror to the reality that he needed to show to the people in order to liberate himself emotionally, as a ‘restless filmmaker and a restless Indian citizen.’

ALSO READ: 6 films that made Bengali cinema proud at International film festivals

Ghosh’s earlier film Miss Man on the queer community was also well-received in the international festival rounds.

Share