Anand Patwardhan
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Anand Patwardhan (b. 1950) is a Documentary film documentary filmmaker from India.
[edit] Early Life and Education
He completed a B.A. in English literature at Bombay University in 1970, a B.A. in Sociology at Brandeis University in 1970, and an M.A. in Communication studies at McGill University in 1982. He participated in the anti-Vietnam War movement from 1970–1972; as a volunteer in Caesar Chavez’ United Farm Workers Union in 1972; in Kishore Bharati, a rural development and education project in Central India in 1972–1974; and other movements for civil liberties and democratic rights. Virtually all his films faced censorship by the Indian authorities but were finally cleared after legal action. His 'War and Peace' made in 2002 was in the news when the CBFC India (Central Board for Film Certification, more popularly known as the censor board), refused to certify the film without making cuts. As always, Patwardhan took the government to court and won the right to screen his film without a single cut. Since many of his films have won national awards, Patwardhan has successfully fought in court to force a reluctant national broadcaster, Doordarshan, to show these films on their national network.
[edit] Works
- 'A Time to Rise' (1981) Concerns Indian immigrant farm workers’ efforts to unionize in Canada. Won Grand Prize at Tyneside International Film festival in 1982; Silver Dove at Leipzig International Film Festival in 1982.
- 'Bombay Our City' (1985) On slum dwellers.Won National Award, India for Best Non-Feature Film 1985; Special Jury Award, Cinema du reel, 1986, Filmfare Award for Best Documentary 1986.
- 'In Memory of Friends' (1990) On rebuilding communal harmony in Punjab. Won National Award, India for Best Investigative Documenatary,1990; Special Jury Award, Mannheim International Film festival, 1990
- 'Ram ke Nam(In the Name of God)' (1992). On the rise of Hindu fundamentalism and the demolition of the Babri Mosque.Won National Award for Best Investigative Documenatary,1992; Filmfare Award for Best Documentary 1996; Grand Prize at Fribourg, 1992; Citizen's Prize, Yamagata International Film Festival,1992
- 'Pitr, Putr aur Dharmayuddha(Father, Son and Holy War)' (1995). Concerns the patriarchal roots of violence in India. Won National Awards for Best Social Film and Best Investigative Documentary, 1996; Special Jury Award, Yamagata International Film Festival, 1996; Grand Prize, Jerusalem International Film Festival,1996.
- 'A Narmada Diary' (1996). Won the Grand Prize at the Earth Vision Film Festival in 1996; Won Filmfare Award for Best Documentary 1996.
- 'War and Peace/Jang Aur Aman (2002). Traces the development of nuclear weapons by India and Pakistan. Won the Grand Prize at the Earth Vision Film Festival in 2002; Best Film at Mumbai International Film Festival in 2002; FIPRESCI International Critics'Award at Sydney in 2002; Best Docmentary in Karachi International Film Festival in 2004 and Best Non-Feature Film at the National Awards, India,2004, etc.
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