Scrutinising a sensitive subject

The ‘International Travelling Uranium Film Festival’ is around the corner. Those who feel strongly about nuclear radiation and its ill effects can spend more time exploring the subject through this extravaganza.

The festival will be held on February 2 and 3  from 11 am to 8 pm at the Suchitra Film Society. “The film festival is dedicated to films that are about the nuclear fuel chain and radioactivity. The main motive behind the festival is to help create awareness about the dangers of the atomic bomb and the destruction it causes.

This is the first time that such a massive promotion regarding the issue has been conducted. Films from more than 20 countries will be screened at the festival. They are categorised as short films, animation, fiction and documentaries,” says Anand Vardaraj, the secretary of the Suchitra Film Society.

N Sashidhar, the president of the body, says that the film festival will provide film-makers with an international audience. “We felt that this was the best medium to screen these films. The entry is free. This is quite a sensitive subject, especially in the context of the Kundankulam project,” he adds.

Vikas, who is volunteering for the film festival, informs that the festival has travelled to various cities like Rio De Janerio, New Delhi and New York, before coming to Bangalore.  “It creates massive awareness regarding this subject. There are films which show the kind of problems and health issues people living near nuclear plants are facing,” he explains.

Film from countries like the USA, Brazil, Australia, India, South Africa, Germany, Sweden and Denmark will be screened and stories from across the world will be presented to the public.

For instance, ‘Jadugoda The Black Magic’ is about an area in Bihar populated by tribals. It is the country’s only underground uranium mine and for the last 30 years, radioactive waste has been dumped into the rice fields of the tribals.

‘Leonids Story’ is about a family searching for a place to live — in the process they are swept into an immense disaster.  This animated flick showcases the disaster in the context of the Chernobyl incident of 1986. Many such stories will be shown in the festival.