Nishant (Night's End, Hindi, 1975)
Director: Shyam Benegal
Before the Europeans reared their ugly heads to the subcontinent, the Indians had their own internal economic equilibrium. This, however, was put in disarray when mercantilism and imperialism changed how business was done. This modern trade system placed a strain on the social layout. The divide between the haves and have-nots increased. People did what they could to prosper, like dancing to the tune of the leaders of the day. This created a ruling class and a subserviently helpless working class.
Director: Shyam Benegal
Cultural practices and people's thinking evolve as society progresses. Everybody likes to think that it is progress. If, a generation ago, hugging and cuddling between family members was not the norm, now, touch is considered a prerequisite for healthy psychological growth, especially for the young. What seems perfect today may, in time to come, turn unspeakable.
Long ago, the group of people known as the Paraiyars held a certain status in society. They were reputable for making good drums, which were an essential item then. Drums were important tools in religious ceremonies and battlegrounds, and they were an excellent mode of communication in battles. Coded drumming conveyed specific codes. At one point, the Paraiyars even broke from their armies and formed their own empire.
Over time, the belief system of the land underwent its own renaissance of sorts. Breakaways from Hinduism viewed meat eating and working on carcasses as something demeaning. Elitists of the Hindus decided that they would instead revere cows and omit meat altogether from their diet. The Paraiyars soon found themselves treated as outcasts, clinging on to the lowest rung of the food chain.
When the British colonial masters came over to India to aid their project of squandering wealth from the exotic, they had to analyse the societal strata. It aided in their policy to 'divide and rule'. For that, they used a system akin to the one used in Europe, subdividing people by profession. For example, a Baker bakes, a Thatcher repairs roofs, a Fletcher is an arrowsmith, and a Schumaker makes shoes. In their census, the British classified their subject by profession.
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Smitha Patil, Shyam Benegal, Shabana Azmi @ Cannes Film Festival 1976. |
This is what happened in 1945 in India, as depicted in this movie. The landowner class used their bargaining power to cow the helpless farmers. They not only cheated by them blind with arbitrary rules but also got away with bullying and other activities. Nishant is one such movie. It is a product of the parallel cinema in India. Made by master filmmaker Shyam Benegal, it was acted beautifully by doyens Smitha Patil and Shabana Azmi. Amrish Puri plays the villain. It was a powerful narration of social oppression, feudal tyranny, and social injustice complemented by subtle but intense characterisation by the actors who took this film to Cannes in 1976. It showcased Benegal's creativity as a filmmaker who dared to tell stories that mattered to the world, leaving an everlasting impact on Indian and world cinema.
