Yesterday, the VICE Youtube channel released a documentary called "An Insignificant man", I wanted to watch this documentary when it got released in theaters on November. But, I don't think Indian theaters release documentary movies. When I saw this on Youtube I just threw my phone and grabbed my laptop and started to watch it. It was amazing. It felt like I was in a trance, when the movie ended I didn't even realize I had spent one and a half hour. The power is real.
This documentary directed by Khushboo Ranka & Vinay Shukla shows the rise of AAP party in India. AAP or Aam Aadhmi (An Insignificant man) Party is an Indian political party that was started as a way to stop corruption in India. The leader of the party is Arvind Kejriwal. The movie was shot over a period of 2 years and both the directors had an inside access to every single time frame during the growth of the AAP. They final collection of footage was over 400 hours long. And the film makers have really pushed boundaries when it comes to creating a cinematic experience with in a documentary format.
Arvind Kejriwal was a tax officer who tried to pass a bill to the government for an Anti-corruption law. But, opposition parties threw the bill aside and it wasn't made. So, he quit his job and joined hands with similar minded people to start a protest. Even after successful campaigning he was unable to pass, the opposition party told that he didn't have any right to order the winning people of the parliament. This is the crucial movement where Kejriwal had to take a huge leap of faith. Kejriwal enters politics to bring his ideals to reality.
This movie is really powerful. There is on one side a party that is 100 years or and on the other there is a 50 year old party with well established roots. Rubbing shoulders with giants for the good of people. That's the essence of this story. On one side there are parties that is pouring in millions for the campaigns, but the AAP party collects the money from the crowd a ten bucks or twenty bucks and with the collected $300 they do the campaign. If your intentions are pure and based on ideals then there is nothing that can stop you. Money and power becomes worthless in front of ideals.
We have seen many stories of David and Goliath in our history. The power of one is something that's unstoppable. There's a scene in this film where Sheela Dixit, an established politician mocks Kejriwal about a cartoon strip that she had seen that day. She will be telling that one person is very small and negligible when you put him in front of a party with 100 years of history. But, that's where she is wrong and this negligence that is shown by big players acted like an advantage to AAP.
Billions of dollars will disappear of the tax payers money, before reaching hands of the people in need. Corruption is a huge money maker in India. I must say about 70% of the employees who work at any sector of the government is corrupt. Now, it has became so popular that many of the students in colleges will put blood and sweat to get a government job, because they can procure a lot of bribes. This cycle where the common man is squeezed of every single penny they have just to get their basic necessities. And people here in India have lost hope on the governments. Many people say many talented Indians are going to America and other countries to succeed in life, but here in India the the talent is not deserving the recognition it deserves because of politics.
In this film is really well made. Even though this is a documentary this is no less than a thriller films. There is crimes, there is defeat and finally the triumph. One of the most amazing journey of a hero I have ever seen. Many people will get killed by the opposition party and there will be a manipulation of media. Will Kejriwal be able to win after going through all this hurdles that is thrown at him by the opposition? Watch the film for the answer. I know the answer is just a Google search away, but its ten times more powerful when you are in the movement that this film is giving you.
I don't want to be biased in my opinion toward AAP or any other political party in India. As an artist and a writer I need to be neutral while sharing my perspective. Similar, is the case with this film also. The movie is not a campaign about AAP party, it just shows the reality. There are good thing and also bad things shown in this film. The opinion is open ended. I want to ask everyone to watch this film right away, because its something that brings hope in this seemingly hopeless world. Thank you for this post. For more posts and reviews about movies follow me. Cheers!
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