A story worth telling

Mona

Growing up around the world, having studied in London and worked in Paris, Renuka George was influenced by a number of cultures she came across during her life’s journey. The most important being her exposure to the world cinema while living in Paris.

“When I was working in Paris, on any odd day, I could watch a film from the 100 films which were being screened in the city,” opens up Renuka, in Chandigarh on Friday on the invite of Chandigarh Creative Cinema Circle. “Documentaries were taken quite seriously too and TV telecast them in fixed slots garnering viewers,” says Renuka, who took to making two documentaries for French television — Kathakali and Dagarvani.

“When watching a Kathakali performance in Paris, I was intrigued as what goes into making of fine artistes.” And, so started her journey in documenting lives. Fascinated by the rigorous discipline that children have to go through in forming years to become a fine artiste later in life, Renuka spent two weeks attending every single classes at the PSV Natya Sangam in Kottacal, before she sought permission to shoot.

“To work with people, you have to earn their trust first,” says Renuka, who worked next on Dagarvani, a portrait of the Dagar family with great dhrupad artiste, N Zahiruddin Dagar and his nephew, F Wasifuddin Dagar.

“The sheer devotion of the classical artistes is worth emulating. At least in the West, there aren’t many people who devote their entire life for one vocation.”

Post her move to India, Renuka made yet another film, Ustad Asad Ali Khan – A Portrait. “Ustad Asad Ali Khan was one of last the great Rudra Veena exponents. Post his demise in 2011, we don’t have a fine Veena player. It was the fear that we will lose this great sound with him that prompted me to do the film.”

This film was financed by the Edmond and Benjamin de Rothschild Foundation, Switzerland, and the LODH Bank, Switzerland.

While two of her earlier films were telecast on French televison, Ustad Asad Ali Khan – A Portrait has only been screened in private gatherings. Though nine years now in Delhi, apart from the annual festivals, Renuka hasn’t seen many takers for documentaries in India.

“I wish they would create a culture for documentary films here, TV and cinemas can hugely contribute towards it.”

There are more names that Renka would love to work with — TM Krishna, eminent Carnatic vocalist, Ulhas Kashalkar, a Hindustani classical vocalist, provided Reuka gets the funding. “There are such huge talents whose stories are yet to be told,” says Renuka.

You can catch her films in 4C’s Weekend with Filmmaker on Saturday at Government Museum & Art Gallery Auditorium-10. The event is open to all.

mona@tribunemail.com