More Creative Documentaries are Made in the Toughest of Times: Saba Dewana

Paradoxically, more creative documentaries are made in the darkest of times and during the most oppressive regimes, opined Saba Dewan. Saba Dewan whose films have been included in the 7^th IDSFFK, was conducting a presentation on “Women in the Documentary Film Movement in India”. She went on saying that today’s generation should focus more on making their works creative rather than solely focusing on its funding and distribution aspects. Funding and distribution of documentaries are important, but if the film has nothing new or creative to convey, it will all be useless, said Saba.

Saba Dewan’s presentation touched up on all the important milestones and history of Women documentary filmmaking in India. She said that a significant wave of women filmmakers came in India only after the emergency period. It was a time to speak out, to protest against injustice and exploitation and to ensure that never again would democracy and democratic principles be allowed to be held hostage. It was in these turbulent, heady times that the documentary found an independent voice and purpose at variance from being a vehicle of propaganda by the state.