This interview was a part of the six-month Grassroots Film Making Training (GFMT) Gongaju is currently associated with.[break]
The five girls – Lalu Maya Bohara, Mina Pariyar, Bina Sunar, Bindu Panthi, and Sunita Nepali – are currently documenting various cultural, religious and social aspects of their areas with a modest budget which is the very idea behind the Grassroots filmmaking concept.
The Human Rights Film Center, Kathmandu (HRFC) is looking after the project which is funded by the Australian Embassy’s Direct Aid program.
The selected five have been divided into two groups of two and three members each. While two, Lalu Maya and Mina, have already completed their documentaries, theirs on the educational aspects of the marginalized communities, Bina, Bindu and Sunita are in the process of making their own movie.
Republica, along with Gongaju, followed the selected filmmakers through Pokhara, Kusma and Baglung while they did their jobs.
It is mid afternoon with the sun glistering above while these girls shoot an important part of their documentary. In the scorching heat waits Sunita for her father-in-law with a sad yet strong look.
Rajendra Prasad Bhusal, Sunita’s lawyer, cracks a joke to lighten the otherwise grave mood at the office of the District Legal Aid Committee, stationed right next to the District Court of Kusma in Parbat District, a part of the Dhawlagiri Zone. Bina and Bindu, also present there, ask Sunita to face the camera.
“How do you feel at the moment, Sunita?” asks Bina while Sunita adjusts the camera mic.
Demure and frumpy, Sunita answers softly that she is fine, and gives a faint smile.
“We can shoot a while later,” decides Bindu.
As the backdrop of Sunita’s story, this documentary film deals with several other stories of inter-caste marriage and its consequences. Inter-caste marriage and its predicaments, according to the moviemaking girls, are one of the most important issues needing immediate attention.
“We hope we can bring positive changes through our work, and so the society no longer defies these marriages,” says Bina.
The girls themselves have gone through rigorous research for their documentary production and have found several cases of suicides after the society’s rejection of such marital unions.
The research and training has aided in not only helping the girls choose a profession for themselves but it has also made them confident.
All of them have heart-touching tales of their own, and share similar qualities of being meek and submissive. However, after continious practice sessions on camera techniques to interviewing styles, they are no longer the same meek and submissive girls they once were.
Sunita is 23, and a local resident of Parbat. She had to quit school after the fifth grade.
Presently, she has taken up the job of a housepainter to pay the school fees of her six-year-old son.
She fell in love with a Chettri boy seven years ago but who now refuses to accept her and has also had a remarriage. Her father-in-law on this particular day was to hand over her share to her of the family property which was decided to be Rs 190,000.
“We thought Sunita’s story was apt for the documentary because it’s a very inspiring tale,” says Bindu, adding “This victory has come to her only after fighting for the past six years, only for the fact that she’s categorized as a Dalit by the society.”
Bindu, 20, also had to drop out of school after SLC. She was informed about the filmmaking training through Fida, the Finnish Development Cooperation Organization. She recalls how she was reluctant at first but decided to join in.
“As soon as I learnt that this was an all-girls event, I agreed,” she said.
After the training and practical classes, she claims she is no longer shy of boys, or anything else, for that matter.
Bina, on the other hand, was in search for a job and attended the interview sessions for the workshop.
“At the interview, I learnt that it wasn’t a regular job but I joined in because I understood this training would equip me with money-earning skills.”
The training has indeed proven to be a turning point in the girls’ lives, for all of them have now decided to take this up as a profession.
“These girls had never touched a camera,” claims Gongaju and adds, “And now look at them. They take beautiful shots. They can compete with professionals very soon.”
The girls have the camera to themselves and are allowed to shoot any way they decide.
The idea behind the project, Gongaju explains, is to have people tell their own stories.
“I don’t want them to become activists and I’m not looking for any revolution. It’s just about telling your own tales,” he smiles.
His next venture will be a similar training for a few girls in the Terai, and finally organizing a grassroots film festival in the capital.
The girls too seem very excited about this plan. Smilingly, Bindu bursts out, “I’ll become a great documentary maker and make my country proud.”
Now the next shot!
Related story
'Tale of a city' concludes
