Anurag Singh is an Indian documentary filmmaker known for his socio-political, human rights oriented films.[1] He has worked with mass peoples’ movements, including the Narmada Bachao Andolan,[2] National Campaign for People's Right to Information,[3] and Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan[4] His most famous films are "Kaise Jeebo Re" (1997 – Narmada valley displacement),[5][6] and "Right to Information" (1999 – Peoples’ demand for RTI, the landmark transparency legislation),[7] which have been screened and won awards internationally.
Anurag Singh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1968 (age 55–56) |
| Occupation | |
Biography
editBorn in 1968 in Varanasi, India, Anurag comes from a small tribal village in Madhya Pradesh. His father Shyam Bahadur Namra was a noted poet and social reformer who worked extensively on education and tribal rights.[8] Anurag's local wisdom and understanding are reflected in the themes and treatment of his films. Involved in photography, cinematography and filmmaking since 1984, Anurag directed his first film 'Manibeli' in 1989, and has since made more than half a dozen films including 'Battle For Peace', 'Kaise Jeebo Re' (How Do I Survive, My Friend), and 'Main Nahi Manga' (We Do Not Ask!).[9] Anurag has also worked with Center for Development of Instructional Technology (CENDIT), an organization that pioneered using of audiovisual technology to communicate sociopolitical issues in India.[10] In 1992 Anurag set up his own film production company Jan Madhyam Productions & in 2004 Rough Cut Productions with Jharana Jhaveri.
Filmography
edit- 1992: "Manibeli", a video on the police repression and people's struggle in the 1st village of Maharashtra State to be submerged by the controversial Sardar Sarovar Dam: Manibeli. 1992. 43 minutes. Hindi.[11]
- 1992: "Battle for Peace", a video on the Burmese students in exile in India made with them. Aug 1992. 30 minutes. English[12]
- 1997: "Kaise Jeebo Re! (How Do I Survive, My Friend)" A Documentary on the protest against the Narmada dam. 1997. 80 minutes. Hindi.[13]
- 1999: "Main Nai Manga" {We Do Not Ask!} a spot on the Right to Information as a basic need. Screened at Expo 2000, Hanover, Germany. March 1999 3.5 minutes. English (Digital)
- 2000: "Right to Information". 33 minutes. English (subtitled)
Awards
edit- "Right to Information" won Best Documentary, Transparency International, Prague, Czech Republic.,[14] and was 2nd in the Best Non-Fiction award at the 2000 Mumbai International Film Festival.[15]
- "Kaise Jeebo Re! (How Do I Survive, My Friend)" won YIDFF in 1999 in Yamagata, Japan.[16][17]
Notable screenings
edit- "Kaise Jeebo Re! (How Do I Survive, My Friend)" was screened at the 1997 International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam in Amsterdam, Netherlands.[18]
References
edit- ^ "Mention of Director Anurag Singh, who had presented his film made along with his partner & wife Jharana Jhaveri"kaise jeebo re!" at Yale". news.yale.edu. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "List of people associated with Narmada Bachao Andolan". narmada.org.
- ^ "Media page of Right To Information movement, India". righttoinformation.info. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2015-03-24.
- ^ "media page of MKSS". mkssindia.org. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-03-24.
- ^ Acknowledgement in "The Algebra of Infinite Justice", Arundhati Roy. Penguin. 2002. p. 312. ISBN 9780143029076. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ The Greater Common Good (1999). Acknowledgement in "The Greater Common Good", Arundati Roy. ISBN 8173101213.
- ^ Right To know, right to live. IDASA Publishers. 2002. p. 157. ISBN 9781919798424. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ Sangharsh Anur Nirman, Authored by Shyam Bahadur Namra. ISBN 8126709960. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Website of Magic Lantern Foundation". Under Construction Films. Retrieved 24 April 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "review of Anurag Singh's film "Manibeli"". downtoearth.org.in.
- ^ "review of Anurag Singh's film "Manibeli"". Down To Earth. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Mention of Anurag Singh's film "Battle for Peace"". news.yale.edu. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Online catalogue Cinemambiente, 2004". Archived from the original on 30 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Newsletter announcing "best documentary award"". Transparency International. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "Best Non-Fiction Video Film up to 90 mins". Mumbai International Film Festival. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ Brochure from Yamagata International Film Festival, 1999. 1999.
- ^ "Yamagata Film Festival Online Catalogue, 1999". Yamagata Japan. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
- ^ "IDFA online catalogue 1997". IDFA. Archived from the original on 12 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2015.