About the Documentary Film – Right to Life
The documentary film “Right to Life” has been produced by Sahyog Trust on
the subject of human rights. This film is made in Marathi with English
subtitles so that it can be viewed and understood by larger population. Law
is going away from the practical life and wisdom. This documentary tries to
bridge this gap, awakens our conscience and leads us towards rational
thinking. The documentary takes everyone through the shady lanes of sex
workers, victims of domestic violence, crime and people living with HIV.
They share their experiences and open up to tell their stories. It is an eye
opener documentary for the stake holders, persons responsible to make
policies, legal educational institutions, police, advocates associations and
bars, public prosecutors, judiciary and finally the common man.
The documentary lasts for a short period of 45 minutes but gives out a very
strong message to the audiences to use law for social change. Through their
valued excerpts in the documentary the legendary Justice V R Krishna Iyer
and the Gandhian Justice Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari instill a sense of
responsibility in all of us to use law for social change and talk about
accountable and transparent governance in the justice delivery mechanism.
Sahyog Trust through its legal wing Human Rights and Law Defenders
(HRLD) is working to strengthen the access to justice to common people
especially the vulnerable sections of the society. HRLD is working with
different stake holders to make judiciary people oriented. This documentary
is an attempt to create spaces for human rights culture.
We have also included the case of the man who was in prison for more than
11 years for a crime that he had not committed. It was only because of you
support that a innocent man was released
The film has used various mediums to reach out to the audience. The
puppets are used to appeal and reach out to the people who are illiterate.
We have interviewed victims of domestic violence, released prisoners, People
Living with HIV and sex workers. These people have shared their
experiences of lives and their poor access to justice. Another part of the film
that really is an attention drawer in the film is the workshop with the
students to show how we need to introduce the real issues of human rights
violations and build perspectives of students. The scenes with students
actually challenge the rhetoric of educational system so as bring in
convergence of theory and practical aspects of life. This workshop with the
students flows naturally without rehearsed dialogues as it is very evident
from the different reactions of the students.
The film is about how only a handful are able to access justice because
other either do not know of their rights, different mechanisms available for
them and cannot afford approach the justice delivery systems. The film
addresses different issues, sectors, classes and groups where human rights
violation happens. Simultaneously it also explains the meaning of human
rights and how each one of us can imbibe the values of human rights in our
lives. Last but not the least it talks of possible solutions to overcome the
difficulties that are addressed in the film.
We have been able to make this film with the help of lot of individuals and
institutions who have believed in our work and our dream to reach out to
people which can have a powerful impact to “Be the change”. The federation
of persons from Maharashtra in Canada – The Maharshtra Social Service
Organization (MSSO), social organization SWISSAID, sensitive citizen from
USA Dr.Vasant Wagh, Dean of Bharati Veedyapeeth Dr Mukund Sarada
helped in bringing this documentary-film.
The concept of the film is the brain child of social change entrepreneur Adv
Asim Sarode who is the recipient of the world’s reputed Ashoka fellowship
from the Innovators of the Public, Washington. This fellowship is being
given to the persons who have shown their zeal in providing effective
solutions to the hard pressing social problems. Adv Rama Sarode and Asim
Sarode are working the socio-legal change sector since more than 10 years
and have worked as subject experts while conceptualising the film. The
docu-film has been directed by Shilpa Ballal and edited by Samir Shipurkar
of the Avakash Nirmitee.
Adv Asim and Rama Sarode are having plans to travel throughout
Maharashtra State with this film and wish to start a movement for change
where the people who are in need of real legal help shall start using law as
an instrument for accessing the justice..