ON THE MARGIN
On The Margin project envisages to make a few medium length non-fiction films with contemporary Indian Muslims. They will be about the Indian Muslims of diverse regions, cultures and languages navigating their stressed identity and prospects within the broader society. Witnessing their resilience and resistance, the film will glance at the prospects of India as a plural society.
The second component of the project is a campaign to achieve an impact goal. The goal is to build communities across India that stand for plurality and contribute in enhancing the capacities of vulnerable Muslim communities. Film screenings across India will aid in reaching the goal.
Background
Hindutva means Hindu nationalism. The proponents believe this will happen only when they 'forcefully' unite diverse and disparate Hindus who celebrate differences. Under this guise of 'oneness' the caste hierarchy is being reinforced. Faiths that eschew casteism and did not emerge from the Indian subcontinent – Islam and Christianity, especially – are naturally excluded. The consequence is the marginalizing of Muslims through policies and propaganda.
The thrust on the economy due to the mainstreaming of Hindu-Muslim conflict and wanton destruction of peace and harmony is debilitating and a huge setback across all global norms and indices. Muslims as bystanders bear the brunt of sustained onslaught. They are deprived of any meaningful role in the national economy, polity or sociality; of identity, dignity and livelihood; of human development and freedom.
Muslims in India are a diverse population, not just linguistically and culturally, but also in the manner in which they relate to Islam. While this phenomenon is their profound contribution to India’s rich demographic heritage, the same brings varying deprivation impacts on them on the basis of region, culture, language and livelihood pattern. The despair and desolation also vary for different milieus.
We travel across many geographic, cultural and linguistic regions of the country. We make films with the Muslim communities of the regions, each one focusing on the impact of an issue, a policy or a pattern of marginalization.
Each film will identify a character and her/his family. It will participate with her/him navigating her life and identity within the broader society.
The films intend to subtly convey a message, among others, that the Muslim issue in India is more a humanitarian than a minority issue.
The making of films
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