Reel Time

The Dark I Must Not Name Director: Shaan Khattau, 66 mins.
It’s a film on the world’s worst industrial tragedy — the Bhopal gas tragedy. But as expected, The Dark I Must Not Name does not capitalise on gory and heart-wrenching images linked with the tragedy, as most in the media do. Instead, the film is a journey through the lives of the victims, today, about 18 years after that hour at midnight in December. Khattau uses no concrete storyline, giving rise to impromptu action and emotions being evoked on screen. The film has numerous characters. Each individual and his/her story become insulated entities, mini films, all existing within the boundaries of the main film itself. Recurring images such as the graffiti on a wall ‘Hang Anderson’ or the chaiwalla an integral part of India’s small towns become mediums of expression for the director to bring out the personal experiences linked with the making of the film. Commissioned by Mahesh Mathai to supplement his Bhopal Express, The Dark I Must Not Name brings into the spotlight the issues of individuals affected by the Bhopal gas tragedy, not as victims but as human beings. Khushnuma Dadachanji