Anand Patwardhan

Anand Patwardhan (born 18 February 1950) is an Indian documentary filmmaker known for his socio-political, human rights-oriented films. Some of his films explore the rise of religious fundamentalism, sectarianism and casteism in India, while others investigate nuclear nationalism and unsustainable development. Notable films include "Bombay: Our City" ("Hamara Shahar") (1985), "In Memory of Friends" (1990), "[[Ram ke Naam|In the Name of God]]" ("Ram ke Nam") (1992), "[[Father, Son, and Holy War]]" (1995), "A Narmada Diary" (1995), "[[War and Peace (2002 film)|War and Peace]]" (2002) and "[[Jai Bhim Comrade]]" (2011), which have won national and international awards.
Biography.
[[File:Anand Patwardhan.jpg|thumb|Anand Patwardhan speaking in [[ViBGYOR Film Festival]] 2011]]
Patwardhan was born on 18 February 1950, in [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]]. He completed a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] in English literature at [[University of Mumbai|Mumbai University]] in 1970, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology at [[Brandeis University]] in 1972, and a Master of Arts in Communication Studies at [[McGill University]] in 1982.
Films.
[[File:AnandPatwardhan at Kollam.jpeg|thumb|300px|Patwardhan during a screening of [[Ram ke Naam]] at Kollam]]
Virtually all of Patwardhan's documentary films have faced censorship from the Indian government, eventually being cleared after legal action. His film "[[Bombay: Our City]]" was shown on TV after a four-year court case, while "[[Father, Son, and Holy War]]" (1995) was adjudged in 2004 as one of 50 most memorable international documentaries of all time by DOX, Europe's leading documentary film magazine. Father, Son, and Holy War was shown on India's National Network, [[Doordarshan]], only in the year 2006, 11 years after its making, after a prolonged court battle which lasted ten years and ended with the nation's Supreme Court ordering the network to telecast the film without any cuts.
The [[Central Board of Film Certification]] (CBFC), refused to certify his next film, "[[War and Peace (2002 film)|War and Peace]]", released in 2002. The board demanded 21 cuts before it would be certified. Patwardhan took the government to court, leading to the film being banned for over a year. However, after a court battle, Patwardhan won the right to screen his film without a single cut. As with his previous films, Patwardhan also successfully fought to force a reluctant national broadcaster, [[Doordarshan]], to show this film on their national network. It was commercially released in multiplexes in 2005.
His 2011 documentary, [[Jai Bhim Comrade]], was based on a police firing [[1997 Ramabai Ambedkar Incident|incident against Dalits at Ramabai Colony in Mumbai in 1997]]. The film, which took 14 years to complete, is considered by many to be a watershed in Patwardhan's long career. In 2013 the Sheffield International Film Festival honoured Patwardhan with an Inspiration Award. In 2014 the Mumbai International Film Festival honoured him with the V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award.
Upon being asked in a BFI interview to deliver a message for future documentary filmmakers, Patwardhan famously replied, "No message really. Do it only if it burns when you don't."
Member.
[[Academy Award|Oscar]] Academy
External links.
Video clips.
[[Category:Anand Patwardhan| ]]
[[Category:Indian documentary filmmakers]]
[[Category:Indian civil rights activists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian film directors]]
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:University of Mumbai alumni]]
[[Category:Brandeis University alumni]]
[[Category:McGill University alumni]]
[[Category:Marathi people]]
[[Category:Film directors from Mumbai]]
[[Category:Activists from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian anti–nuclear weapons activists]]