Kaphal
90 mins/2013/Hindi with English subtitles/INDIA
More about the film/Filmmaker:
More about Children's Film Society, India
SYNOPSIS
Directed by Batul Mukhtiar. It is a story based in a hilly village of Garhwal, where 2 young boys, Makar and Kamru find that a father coming back home after 5 years is less a pleasure, and more a pain.
Their attempts to get rid of him are spurred on by their mischievous friends, Bupi and Pusu. But when they meet a young shepherdess, Ghungra, who claims to be the granddaughter of the local witch, Pagli Dadi, their adventures take a new turn.
Set in the picturesque setting of the Himalayan range located in the state of Uttarakhand, the film is as much about the society & culture of the mountain people as it is about the universal parent-child relationship.
Kaphal is produced by the Children's Film Society India (CFSI) and aimed at children, but it works equally for their parents. The naturalistic performances by the children, none of whom has acted before, are memorable, as are the beautiful locations in Garhwal, India. Woven around the knee-high antics of Makar, Kamru and their buddies is a web of grown-up concerns for the economy of the hilly region, the relationship between sons and fathers, a pro-environment message, as well as a plea for tolerance.
Formal Accolades for Kaphal
Golden Elephant for Best Director at the 18th International Children’s Film Festival India. Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) for Best Children’s Film, 61st National Film Awards India.
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TRAILER
Watch how these adorable kids in Austin, TX reacted to a screening of Kaphal.
Eesha Nayak, our stellar Student Volunteer at the screening shot reactions of some of the kids after the movie. She edited them to make a very cute 4:40min video for us. Thank you Eesha!!
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
Fahad Mustafa (Director/Producer):
Born in Kanpur, Fahad has since lived in Dammam, New Delhi, Vienna and Edmonton. He was an Erasmus Mundus Global Studies scholar. His previous film, as director, was FC Chechnya (Austria, 2010)
“I was born in Chamanganj, Kanpur. My parents left the neighbourhood to seek a future elsewhere. I have therefore had the privilege of living, studying and working in other parts of the world. My memories of Kanpur are predominantly of long, uncomfortable, water-less summers, spent without electricity. As a child I remember relatives facing unemployment due to the closure of the nationalized mills in Kanpur. I remember how in the following years, the power situation worsened. Livelihoods were at stake, and there were always stories about relatives and friends of the family, losing their incomes and businesses. In many ways Loha Singh is a reflection of the city’s past. The only livelihood that he has available to him is stealing electricity, a highly dangerous, life threatening task. Yet he does it with a panache and grit that is very Kanpuria. Upon returning to Kanpur many years later I found that the situation remains largely unchanged. A city and its people look back with bitter nostalgia and a sense of loss towards its glorious past and uncertain future. This is a story not only about electricity, but a political reality that millions in India and billions worldwide live with” .
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
​Deepti Kakkar (Director/Producer):
Born in Delhi, Deepti has been engaged in issues of social development sustainable livelihood for the last 10 years. She has previously directed a film on microfinance in India, and worked on story-development and as production manager on FC Chechnya. Deepti lives in Ghaziabad, India.
“In many ways the story that compelled Fahad to film in Kanpur, is a story of most small towns in the country. Having lived all my life in another industrial town – Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, I am no stranger to day-long power cuts and to how they govern peoples’ lives. Ritu’s reformist instinct and struggle to bring change to the city is pitted against Loha’s wit and ingenuity; the one a thief, the other a cop. ∂However, ultimately they’re both fighting for a common cause – to light up lives. In many ways Kanpur is at a frontline of globalization, and is a microcosm that showcases the infrastructure problems that India faces today. Kanpur is as much as a character in this film as it’s main protagonists.” Energy is taken for granted in developed nations, however many in India spend entire lifetimes without switching on an electric device. The energy crisis in India also finds resonance in global issues such as climate change and corporate social responsibility. While there are villages in India that have no electricity whatsoever, in Kanpur one can distinctly visualize how the lack of energy leads people to a cycle of poverty.
Photography Credit: Eesha Nayak. Thank you Eesha for taking such lovely pictures pre-show. You are the best student volunteer we could ever hope for!