‘It has a life’, an ode to a light in the dark times

paragraphmargin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline; -webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning: none“My Toto is my life!” Through the dense forests of Sal, Teak, and Mahua, lies a path that fades into an abandoned airfield from World War II, where another tale of resilience unfolds, one that is still unknown to us. This is the story of Bijali Murmu. The story of a woman and a mother of two, from an indigenous community in Salboni, West Bengal, begins when she is just 11 years old. In a family stricken with poverty, her parents marry her off, hoping for better days and a prosperous life. However, like every fairy tale isn't spun in gold, Bijali Di's dreams continue to flicker like a small flame of hope amidst the struggles of her impoverished household.paragraphmargin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline; -webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning: noneOne such day, driven by the urge to showcase indigenous traditional dance forms to the outside world, Bijali Di starts her journey with a group of girls. For a woman from a remote village, this fight against societal norms wasn’t easy. Facing various taunts and the fear of being judged by their husbands, one by one, the girls start leaving the group, leading to Bijali Di's lone battle. Through her solitary efforts, she receives requests to perform at events. With metal pots balanced on her head, she dances to the rhythms of traditional indigenous tunes. An unexpected accident at her husband's workplace brings unforeseen darkness, her Toto (an electric rickshaw) becomes her companion in her struggle to educate her children and sustain her household. The story does not end here, it has more of her resilience, her commitments for a better life and an unwavering story of a woman who still have dreams to meet. To understand and experience this journey, independent filmmaker Saurav Mookherji and his team have meticulously woven together interviews and stories into a deeply moving experience.paragraphmargin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline; -webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning: noneIntrigued by the sight of a Toto (a small motorised rickshaw) parked at the station and driven by a woman in a rural village, a team of young Kolkata filmmakers embarked on a remarkable three-years journey. Drawn by the unusual sight, they spent countless hours listening to the reserved Bijali Di as she unfolded her story. Deeply moved by Bijali Di's narrative, filmmaker Saurav Mookherji, alongside his colleagues Antara Banerjee and Dr. Purba Chakraborty, ventured on a cinematic exploration of her life. The trio was united in their conviction that Bijali Di's story,deserved a wider audience. "As we delved into her experiences, we felt compelled to share this powerful narrative of perseverance. If this film can inspire even a single individual to hold fast to their aspirations, then I will consider our filmmaking endeavour a resounding success,", said Saurav. The production encompassed a comprehensive research phase exceeding two years, followed by a meticulous shooting and a post-production

paragraphmargin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline; -webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning: none process that spanned over 1.5 years.paragraphmargin:0cm;margin-bottom:.0001pt;vertical-align:baseline; -webkit-user-drag: none;-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent;user-select: text; overflow-wrap: break-word;white-space:pre-wrap;font-kerning: noneSaurav turned Bijali Di's story into a full-length cinema called It Has a Life. “Indigenous women are often the keepers of traditions, languages, and historical knowledge within their communities. Sharing their stories helps ensure these important aspects of culture are documented and passed on to future generations,” said Saurav. When asked about future plans for the film, Saurav and his friends mention their intention to showcase the film in various places, both in India and abroad. "Being an independent filmmaker funding the cinema is the primary challenge that we have faced. We tried to reach out to various funding agencies and possible collaborators to be able to receive financial support but when it all didn’t worked out, we had to tell the story with whatever limited resources we had. A small but committed team has reinforced the journey and made this possible”, said Saurav. "The journey has been challenging with each rotations but Bijali Di’s story and her struggle has been the boost in terms of making the narrative possible,"added Saurav. If the government provides support, they plan to screen the film in some special locations in coming days. Notably, Saurav and his friends are soon going to release the poster of their film.