Marupakkam Online Film Screening # 27 : Are they better off

Marupakkam Online Film Screening # 27

From Friday (25 Dec) 6 pm; for 72 hours only

Film : Are they better off
Dir : Aditya Seth; 60 min; Khasi, English with English subtitles; 2016

Synopsis : A place in India where people rejoice when a girl is born and houses bear the names of women is Meghalaya. Khatduhs are the youngest daughters of Khasi matrilineal clans from Meghalaya, where the lineage is from the mother’s clan line or kur but their importance is diminishing. Economic development has fuelled migration & the voices of dissent against Matriliny are getting louder. Given this scenario the documentary Are they better off, is an exposition of Matriliny in Meghalaya & it’s socio-political complexities, contextualized with the status of women, nationally.

Three women Hulda Kynta,52, Selinda Kharbuki, 29 & Jubelee Kharmujai, 23 reveal their customs & traditions as we journey to Shillong to celebrate Christmas in their Matrilineal homes.

Crew :
Cinematographer: Santosh Swarnakar
Sound Recordist: Jatin Sharma
Anatil Mahato
Line Producer & Subject Consultant: Hulda Kynta
Editor: Ketan Adhia
Producer: Films Division of India

About the director : Based out of Mumbai & Delhi, India, Aditya Seth is an internationally acclaimed independent award winning Documentary, Short & Corporate Film Maker & Academic with a sound grounding in Theatre & Music and has been involved in the making of Short Films, Documentaries & TV programmes in all genres for national as well as international audiences. He is an Academic & Professor of Film & teaches Filmmaking & related media at the Under Graduate, Post Graduate & PhD levels. He has been in the film industry for the more than 30 years and has been an academic for over 20. He is an Academic Consultant for University of South Wales, Cardiff, Wales, (UK)

He is a Certified Master Trainer & Master Assessor for Media & Entertainment Skills Council, Skill India. Aditya is a founder member of Vikalp: Films For Freedom, was the Treasurer of the Indian Documentary Producers Association (IDPA) from 2004 -’08 & is currently the President of IDPA.

His critically acclaimed documentary Bahadur The Accidental on Nepalese Labour migration & HIV won the Best Documentary award at the Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival. It has been screened at various prestigious International Film Festivals in India, Nepal, Spain, Indonesia, UK, Iraq & Iran. The film won Documentary Short Award of Excellence at the International Film Festival For Peace, Inspiration, Equality, Jakarta, Indonesia. It also Won Best Feature Film (Non-Fiction) award at The Indian Independent Film Festival, Bengaluru, 2013 & was an official entry in the Indian Panorama @ the 45th Indian International Film Festival, Goa, 2014.

He is a recipient of the prestigious "Inspiring Citizens' Award" from The Institute of Self Reliance for his contribution to Film & Media Education, 2019.

He has mentored, supervised & executed over 250 student films & productions in the disciplines of Fiction Film making, News Broadcast, Advertising, Documentary & Radio Programmes.

He is the Founder & Course Director of The Indian Academy of Shorts which is based out of Noida, Mumbai & Kathmandu.

Interaction :

We welcome you to the interaction with the filmmaker on 27 Dec (Sunday) @ 11 am via Zoom. Message to 9940642044 for ID and password to attend the interaction.

INTERACTION WITH ADITYA SETH