War and Peace (2002 film)
War and Peace | |
---|---|
Directed by | Anand Patwardhan |
Cinematography | Anand Patwardhan |
Edited by | Anand Patwardhan, Monica Wahi, Sanjiv Shah |
Release date | 2002 |
Running time | 135 minutes |
Country | India |
Languages | English, Hindi |
War and Peace (Jang Aur Aman) is a 2002 Indian documentary film directed by Anand Patwardhan. The film covers the Indian and Pakistani nuclear weapons tests in 1998, as well as the nationalist rhetoric that accompanied these tests. It also explores the ill-effects of the Indian test on the surrounding population and the reactions to the test among the government and the public. The latter part of the film also covers the perception of nuclear weapons in Japan and the United States. Upon the film's completion, the Indian censor board demanded that Patwardhan make 21 cuts before it could be released, including cutting all speeches by politicians. Patwardhan refused and took the matter to court; the Bombay high court ruled in his favour a year later, and the film was released without any cuts.
Synopsis
The documentary begins with the assassination of
Production
The documentary was shot for three years following Indian nuclear weapons tests in 1998. It sought to explore the Hindu-nationalist rhetoric that accompanied the test.[3] It included footage shot in India, Pakistan, Japan, and the United States.[2] The documentary was produced and directed by Patwardhan himself, who was also responsible for the camera work.[4]
Release and censorship
The Central Board of Film Certification, often referred to as the Indian Censor Board, asked Patwardhan to make 21 cuts before the documentary could be released.[5] Among the scenes that were ordered to be cut were the killing of Mahatma Gandhi by the Hindu-nationalist assassin Nathuram Godse in 1948, as well as scenes critical of leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which held the central government at that point.[5] The board also asked Patwardhan to cut scenes depicting an exposé of corruption in the defence department of the NDA government by Tehelka magazine, as well as all speeches by politicians and the prime minister.[6] Patwardhan refused to cut the scenes, stating that this was because the scenes were of politically sensitive issues.[5] As a result, the film was banned for over a year. However, after a court battle, the film was screened without a single cut.[3] As with his previous films, Patwardhan also successfully petitioned the court to force the national broadcaster, Doordarshan, to show this film on its national network. It was commercially released in June 2005.[7]
Reception and analysis
Tehelka magazine called the film a "monumental event for Indian cinema."
Awards
- Grand Prize, 2002 Earth Vision Film Festival (Tokyo)[8]
- Best Film and International Jury Prize, 2002 Mumbai International Film Festival[8]
- International Film Critics' Award (FIPRESCI), 2002 Sydney Film Festival[8]
- Best Documentary, 2003 Karachi International Film Festival[9]
- Gold Award by Indian Documentary Producer's Association in 2002[10]
- Best Documentary, 2003 International Video Festival, Kerala[10]
- Silver Dhow, 2003 Zanzibar International Film Festival[10]
- 2004 National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film, India[11]
References
- ^ a b c d e Stratton, David (18 March 2002). "War and Peace". Variety.
- ^ S2CID 143713776.
- ^ a b c d e Alone against India's nuclear nationalism, BBC News, 12 August 2003
- ^ Patwardhan, Anand. "War and Peace". patwardhan.com. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ a b c "Filmmaker's Battle to Tell India's Story in India", The New York Times, 24 December 2002
- JSTOR 4412538.
- ^ a b "War and Peace hits the box office for the first time in India", Tehelka, 25 June 2005
- ^ a b c War and Peace: Jang Aur Aman, ICARUS Films, retrieved 3 August 2013
- ^ 3rd KaraFilm Festival, Karachi International Film Festival, retrieved 3 August 2013
- ^ a b c War and Peace, Anand Patwardhan Website, retrieved 3 August 2013
- ^ 51st National Film Awards - 2004, Directorate of Film Festivals, retrieved 3 August 2013