While most of us, by and large, are inadequately informed about the real concept of a documentary film, students usually define it as a non-fiction film that is invariably set on a real life narration most certainly deriving out of concerns like poverty, transgender issues, women-centric problems among many others. Today, documentary films have gained acceptance and popularity among the Indian youth, many of who are still completing their studies at the universities.
A documentary engages its audience with the world in a question-answer format and gives the actual narrative a creative and critical treatment, leaving the viewers awestruck and aware of the brutal reality in most of the cases.
On most occasions, theyare subjective according to the views of its director rather than being objective and depicting both sides of the case and exhibits a world that we are living in rather than a reverie.
“As more and more Indians are getting aware about pressing social issues and rights of the people, this awakening is also giving shape to platforms like documentary filmmaking, to raise their voices, show the evil face of society, the corrupt minds and make as many people aware as possible,”
Priyanka Sharma, a Delhi University student an avid follower of documentary films tells Metrolife.
The Delhi youth has welcomed the trend with all their hearts showing an active participation in various festivals and screenings and also taking part in amateur workshops which allow them to learn the formulae and create their own documentaries.
Not only is the city today seeing a lot of upcoming documentary film festivals, but also the various universities are giving their students a curriculum where documentaries are a part and parcel of learning. This is the reason why we see a sudden surge in student documentary film awards in a bid to promote their efforts.
Documentaries are not commercially available films, yet the concept has become so benevolent to modern-day directors of commercial cinema that they are frequently trying to borrow from the aesthetics of the concept. Movies like Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Queen and Paan Singh Tomar are few of the many commercial films that focus on real-life stories and allows a common man to perceive it through the common cinematic experience.
“Documentaries at times show such unexpected things to which a common man would not have readily have access to. This creates a sense of ‘belongingness’ with the person who is being featured in the documentary. Issues like prostitution in India would definitely top the charts of that list, you know at times these are so intense that it will make you cry and at some point of time you will find the need to protect them, work for their betterment. You actually become a better human being,” Karan Sharma, student of Journalism at Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Delhi University, who is gearing up to explore the world through his documentaries, tells Metrolife.
Documentary films are hence changing today’s youth towards a more aware and sensitised population which seeks answers to the atrocities and many societal ills and fight against them.
