May 01 2024 to May 01 2024 6:30 p.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

95 mins | Punjabi, Hindi with English Subtitles | India Trigger Warning: Sensitive Content

Direction, Camera and Editing – Prateek Shekhar

Music – Nipun Bhatnagar

Colorist – Divya Kehr

Drone – Sashawhyy

Mixing Engineer – Abhishek Singh

In September 2020, the Indian government passed three agricultural laws aimed at liberalising the farm economy. Soon after, farmers from across the country gathered at the borders of India’s national capital, New Delhi, for one of the biggest non-violent protests in modern history. Expressing their concerns about the dangers of corporatisation of agriculture, farmers articulated detailed and nuanced criticism against what they believed were unjust laws. Over the year-long protest, the farmers slept and cooked on the national highway, braving extreme weather conditions and hostility from their government, until the laws were repealed. Along with the strong mobilisation by the farmer unions, it was the embodiment of the Sikh principle of sewa (selfless service for the betterment of society) and the expression chardi kala (eternal optimism) that made the movement dynamic, unique and strengthened its undying and indomitable spirit. Inspired by their everyday resilience, Chardi Kala follows the journey of the farmers’ protest until their victory. The one-person-crew film observes, listens and documents the farmers’ comprehensive arguments, their acts of selfless service and the spirit of eternal optimism that imbued this grassroots-led movement as it made history.