Films for Freedom, Bangalore, as part of its monthly visitations on societal concerns through celebrated documentaries, this weekend, takes audience on an introspective and reflective mode as it revisits generally accepted notions of ‘Nation’ and what ‘Freedom’ really means, provoking large debate.
FfF spotlights on the subject through specially curated three docu-features, which in the process, bring to sharp and stark focus and reflect upon State of the ‘Nation’ in Kashmir, Manipur, and famous checkpoint on the Indo-Pak Wagah border, the people caught in conundrum of conflicting situations.  The sojourn begins with Sanjay Kak’s provocative Jashn-E-Azadi which raises disturbing questions about freedom in Kashmir while exploring the implications of relentless struggle for freedom in the valley, while looking inwards at the degree of freedom within India itself. Incidentally, Sanjay Kak will be present at the screening.
Spotlighting on rape, torture and suspicious death of 32-year-old Manorama Devi, Manipur-director Haobam Paban Kumar’s AFSPA, 1988 ((Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958) brings to sharp focus on how the Act brought to curb separatist movement is being mis-used by the armed forces with draconian power and immunity. Capturing various acts of heinous human rights abuses taking place under the benign gaze of both the State and central government, the film, throws light on the people’s protests, violenct and peaceful, in Manipur.
Amar Kanwar’s A Season of Outside  set at Indo-Pak Wagah border outpost is a lyrical and thought-provoking short that succinctly traces the story of oppression and violence people suffer due to oppression and violence on either sides.
The film, which begins with ritualistic  nightly closing of gates at the busy checkpoint on the India-Pakistan border, with choreographed machismo and mutual hostility,  traces, through personal and philosophical journey shadows of past generations, conflicting positions, borders and time zones and examines the scars of violence and shattered dreams of communities and nations.
Screenings, 6.30 pm, at Centre for Film & Drama (CFD), V Floor, Sona Towers, Millers Road. Admittance through membership only. For details call: 99862-54490.