TIFF-2022 award for documentary on Ravish Kumar
New Delhi: ‘While We Watched’, the 94-minute Hindi documentary by award-winning filmmaker Vinay Shukla on the professional journey of Magsaysay Award winning Indian journalist Ravish Kumar, won the Amplify Voices Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF-2022).
‘While We Watched’ – titled ‘Namaskar! Main Ravish Kumar’ in Hindi – was produced by BRITDOC Films and LONO Studio.
A film that focuses on Ravish Kumar’s efforts to uphold facts and truth and simultaneously unveil mere hearsay, ‘While We Watched’ received a standing ovation at the film festival.
TIFF film programmer Thom Powers said that people concerned with the future of television journalism ought to watch the documentary, since, although its tale is situated in India, its reference to putting forth truth fighting the spread of falsehood would be applicable in any country.
Shukla called the feature-length film an expression of his love for journalism. He also called journalists ‘the greatest storytellers of our times’.
Speaking on communicating with Ravish Kumar who won the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2019, Shukla said that he watched the veteran journalist at work for two years, the way the team ascertained the truth behind a news piece. This, the director said, taught him the efforts put in behind the screen, even every sort of cost the journalist paid, for every news show that a viewer watched. Since he realized it was a tough job, the film was a tribute to the personal cost that journalists pay to get their job right, Shukla stressed.
Luke W Moody, who is one of the producers of the film, called it an effort at bringing to light the loss that the world would face if such quality journalism had to die.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
