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| Milestones |
VHAI has emerged as a film maker of national repute on issues of social concern.
The Chief Executive of VHAI has directed a film on Health Promotion – ‘Paths are made by walking’ which was the curtain raiser for the 6th Global Conference on Health Promotion held in Bangkok.
A documentary film ‘Turning Their Lives to Ashes’ on the lives of Bidi Workers by VHAI was released and premiered in November 2008.
The movie blatantly exposes the appalling working conditions of bidi workers.
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'SHIELA’ – a story of a woman’s struggle in a male dominated society was twice telecasted on Doordarshan.
Similarly, ‘ANANT’ a tele-film on the lives of four HIV positive patients was premiered on STAR TV. It covered the entire South East Asia and enjoyed a very high viewership.
Under the aegis of Films for Change, a joint initiative of VHAI and Project SMITA, Mumbai, a feature film – APARAJITA – on Adolescence and associated issues has also been premiered. It has received rave reviews from the development world.
Other similar initiatives include tele-serials and documentaries on developmental concerns area a continuous effort. |
| Latest Release |
Turning Their Lives to Ashes - Documentary film by VHAI
Release of a Film and Study by Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI)
Bidi Industry violates Human Rights of its Workers to maximize Profits
Bidi workers are among the most exploited working group in India as the industry is cleverly evading all labour laws. The documentary film, “Turning Their Lives to Ashes” was released and premiered by VHAI on November 03, 2008 at a press conference at Taj Palace, New Delhi.
It was attended by an august gathering comprising of Members from the Planning Commission, Senior Officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Senior Representatives from The Union and Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and members from other NGOs.
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The movie blatantly exposes the appalling working conditions of bidi workers. It graphically portrays the real, heart wrenching case studies of women and children from Murshidabad district (West Bengal) who roll bidis from morning to night, yet remaining in abject misery and poverty. The screening was accompanied by the release of the study, “Caught in a Death Trap”, based on a first-hand, in-depth research to develop an understanding of the lives of bidi workers working in the unorganized, home-based sector in the states of West Bengal and Gujarat.
“It is shocking that after so many years of freedom, lakhs of people have to work under such dehumanizing conditions without any basic rights which are legally entitled to the workforce of our country.” says Mr. Alok Mukhopadhyay, Chief Executive, VHAI.
The movie and study are very significant considering the Government’s focus on tobacco control primarily focusing on cigarettes, even though bidis sell eight times more than cigarettes. Also bidis are more dangerous to health and kill 600,000 Indians annually. |
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| Objective |
VHAI has emerged as a film maker of national repute on issues of social concern. Films for Change aims to bring together people who are committed to development and who have faith in the medium of films as a vehicle of social change. It provides them with a platform to come together in solidarity and work towards better awareness, better health and in all a better world for all.
Objectives
Films for change plans to produce relevant films every year on contemporary and burning issues with the two-fold objective:
- To be telecasted on the television channels
- Copies to be made available to NGOs and other organizations for use in their work as a tool for training, sensitization and information dissemination.
We are also planning to gradually broaden the scope of Films for Change towards developing music albums and videos, social advertising and feature film. But of course with a social message as the core focus of each.
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| Governing Body for Films for change |
Recently, Films for Change after extensive consultations has formed a governing body of individuals who would guide us in our work. The governing body members are Shri Alok Mukhopadhyay, Chief Executive, VHAI, Shri Mahesh Bhatt (noted Film Director), Ms Seema Biswas (actress), Shri Ram Maheshwary, (Branch Head, Mumbai, Bennett Coleman and Co. Ltd.), Smt. Bakul Patel (Board member of Rajni Patel Trust and social activist), Ms. Vinta Nanda (Ideation Director, Zee TV), Shri Raman Kumar (noted Film and TV Soap Director) and Shri Ashok Pandit (noted TV Soap Director).
Films for change has also benefited by the interest and commitment of well known artists and film industry professionals like Dipti Naval, Kanwaljit, Renuka Sahane and Jagjit Singh. The list of our friends is very long and growing.
Building partnerships with Television Channels and support Organisations
Films for Change believes in involving the channels in conceptualizing innovative and specialized programs that are relevant to the channel, by being in tandem with its thrust area and of the desired quality. The support of television channels is integral to the success of the effort. Films for Change is trying to build a partnership with the channels to: Telecast on regional or multilingual channels. |
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| Films / Tele Films |
'Aparajita' explores the issue of gender
discrimination through the life of an adolescent girl for her
trials and tribulations in the quest for education and self reliance.
Scripted by Mr. Alok Mukhopadhyay and Directed by Mr. Raman Kumar,
the film's cast includes Kanwaljeet Singh, Avtar Gill, Renuka
Shahne, Seema Biswas and Divya Dutta. |
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'Anant' revolves around the life of four HIV+ patients. The music is
by Jagjit Singh and the star cast includes Deepti Naval, Kanwaljeet
& Seema Biswas. Scripted by Mr. Alok Mukhopadhyay, 'Anant' was
premiered by Star TV on the World AIDS Day for the South East Asian
region.
It had a viewership of 170 million people and recieved rave
review
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'Sheila' is a story of a woman's struggle in a male dominated
society. A 26 episode tele-serial, 'Sheila' is a professional
production with popular artists providing the right mix of entertainment,
information and content.
It received a high TRP rating during
its telecast on Doordarshan and then its return on primetime
Sunday afternoons. Gauging its popularity , Doordarshan subsequently
dubbed it in various regional languages for telecast at the
local stations.
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'Kasba' is a series of 21 films that depicts the everyday trials
and triumphs of a community. Presented through the eyes of the five
musketeers of the kasba , each episode deals independently with issues
like population control, girl child, women's economic empowerment,
superstition and blind belief, adolescence, gender equality, child
care and adoption, quacks and traditional practitioners.
Have a great idea for a film? Want to screen your documentary?
Email us at vhai@vsnl.com
or write to us at:
VHAI,
B-40, Qutub Institutional Area ,
New Delhi - 110016 |
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