Vandana Kohli's 'OF SUCH TIMES', a half-an-hour documentary in English on India's modern women, was screened recently in London at the Nehru Centre, the cultural wing of India's High Commission, and at Capital Woman, a conference organised by the Mayor of London. In an interview with India-EU Film Initiative, film's 35-year-old director talks about her film.
"I think the size of today's middle class in India is around 39%, which actually means almost 400 million people, including 160 million women, who fall into this category. My film 'OF SUCH TIMES', an exploration of India's modern women, is a fun film, celebrating their journeys." says Ms. Kohli, an articulate and charming director of several documentaries from India's capital, New Delhi.
Film's synopsis says ‘Of Such Times' speaks with women who've all graduated from one of India's foremost colleges for women, though in different decades, from the 1950s till 2001. They reflect breezily on life, work, marriage,aspirations, fun, the times they graduated in.
All women who speak of their journeys on camera are from India's prestigious college for women, Lady Shri Ram College, based in a posh area of South Delhi. So why did she choose just one college and that too 'the posh LSR'?"Well, LSR is incidental. I chose LSR because it's India's number one and represents India's modern women," says Ms. Kohli un-apologetically.
"I believe neither any body's ordeal is less or more in comparison to others. In my opinion, real empowerment of women means giving them choices," adds Vandana Kohli.
The synopsis of the film says: Voices of these women are strung together to form the narrative of the film. Each story and decade is imbued in feel with visuals of popular culture and music trends relevant to the time they're set in. Interspersed, also, between the narratives are significant socio-economic-political events in Indian history that influenced the protagonists.
Vandana Kohli is a multi-faceted personality. She's trained in filmmaking, music and photography. In some cases, her screenings are followed by her music. She plays piano with great passion. The moment you say music her face lives up. "Music is definitely going to be the subject of my next film," she reveals.
Women who share their experiences "OF SUCH TIMES":
GEETA CHANDRAN- Danseuse (pictured left) SNEHLATA JHA SHARMA- Homemaker, MALAVIKA KARLEKAR- Writer, MINOTI NATH CHATTERJEE- Educationist, DR.MEENAKSHI GOPINATH- Principal Lady ShriRam College, VINITA BALI- Corporate Leader, ABHA ADAMS- Educationist /Theatre person, ARTI JERATH- Journalist, VASUNDHARA TIWARI- Artist, MADHAVI KUCKREJA- Activist For Rural, Development, NIVEDITA MENON-Academician/Activist,), ANJALI BHARDWAJ- Activist/Economist, SUNALINIKUMAR- Lecturer, AMBAR AHMAD- Lecturer.
Running time: 31 minutes 45 seconds
Director: VANDANA KOHLI
Documentary: DOCUMENTARY (Colour)
Format: VIDEO
Language: ENGLISH ‘OF SUCH TIMES: The Modern Indian Woman - Reflections and Journeys'
Conceived and Directed by VANDANA KOHLI
Cameraperson S. KUMAR, HUSAIN AKBAR,S.MANOHARAN, SHARAD KAPOOR
Edited by VANDANA KOHLI, RAHUL SRIVASTAVA
Producer & Commissioning editor for PSBT RAJIV MEHROTRA
For more information: http://www.vandanakohli.com/