‘Aneki Sambhana Hain’ Documentary Review: An Honest Portrayal of a Marginalized Community

A still from the documentary ‘Aneki Munmana Hain’. | Photo credit: Q Studio/YouTube

Aralam Farm, Asia’s largest tribal resettlement area, surrounded by water bodies and adorned with green cover, has sparked outrage among its residents. Jibesh Usha Balan’s 32-minute documentary There are many possibilities An honest attempt to convey their unjust reality to the world.

Since 2006, more than 3000 tribal families have been resettled at Arlam Farm in Kannur, Kerala, following protests led by activist CK Janu. The landless tribals of Kannur, Kozhikode and Waynad, happy with the government’s promise of an acre for themselves, migrated to these areas with dreams of a better life. More than a decade later, amid faint hope, they are leaving the land they once fought so fiercely for.

The film, an official selection at the IDSFFK and Shades Short Film Festival, takes us on a walk through the farm’s forest, through the daily lives of its inhabitants. The camera follows the characters in depth as they introduce us to the village, its abandoned houses, the dysfunctional school, the hospital difficult to access with only an ambulance, the rivers around the farm, the broken boundary wall near the forest. , and the most disturbing problem, man-animal conflict, which has been nipped in the bud, all hope for a peaceful life.

After 5 pm, a resident said it was unsafe for them to stay outside their house as the elephants in the area were hostile to humans. 14 people have lost their lives so far in this human versus animal conflict. The government gives people seedlings for cultivation. But wild boars, elephants and other animals eat the stems and fruits, making farming impossible in the region.

Protests and calls for justice have forced the government to build a wall near the forest, which people say has created more nuisance than before, as animals have started coming from unexpected quarters. Elephants simply push down the wall and stomp on it.

Whereas, in a neighboring area, when a common/unprotected class individual was killed by a tusker, a strong wall was formed in that area, which the animals could not pull. “We are indigenous. What does the government care if we die,” say tribal residents.

Winner of the Indian Film House Best Documentary Award, the film is a compelling watch. It begins slowly, giving the audience time to drink in the scenic beauty and gently presents dilemmas. From there, it keeps the audience glued to their screens, seamlessly leading the gravity of the situation. Biographies let people and their stories speak for themselves without barriers or scripted narratives.

A light-hearted approach is maintained without undermining the intensity of the situation, making the film an easy watch. The background score adds an eerie feel to the visuals and helps with the storytelling, although it does go over the top in some sequences. In many places, subtitles could be better.

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As the film progresses, it becomes clear that more than the lack of basic amenities, what the community hates most is the sense of isolation and lost hope. Outsiders are not allowed inside the farm, increasing their sense of isolation. Many have left the place with their belongings. Many talk. Most of those who stay have no other choice.

It feels too soon when the film ends at 32 minutes without a clear conclusion, announcement or demand. Since the situation is so effectively portrayed, it becomes unnecessary to spell out what needs to be done. The documentary ends with the residents saying, “Whatever government is in power, it’s a fool’s game they keep playing. Our reality never changes. Adivasis will always be Adivasis.”

Aneki Sambhavana is streaming on Hein Cue Studio YouTube channel and thecue.in website