Ranchi, Aug. 20: It’s a fight for tribal rights on celluloid. A voice, that will now be heard across Asia.
Justice Delayed, a film by Sri Prakash, is the only film from Jharkhand to be selected for a screening at CMS Vatavaran 2009, Asia’s premier wildlife and environment film festival to be held in Delhi this October.
Sri Prakash, an activist filmmaker, said his film is for the cause of tribal rights in India. Focusing on the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006, it highlights the historical injustices against tribals that have taken place across the country. Primarily shot in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, it also tells Jharkhand’s story.
“I have tried to show how migrant tribals from Jharkhand are evicted from their lands and are forced to work as labourers in Railseema, Telangana and coastal Andhra. The film also tries to draw a comparison on the implementation of FRA in Jharkhand and other parts of India. Through interviews of activists, government officials and intellectuals, it shows how the Act is changing the lives of tribal communities,” he added.
Sri Prakash has several films on tribal issues to his credit. He has made this film with assistance from the University of Manchester and Centre for Economic and Social Studies, Hyderabad.