Kolkata: The city witnessed a special screening of the new docu-fiction Suryaganga at an auditorium in Kolkata recently.
Directed by Valli Bindana, the film talks about the drying up of the riverbed of Ganges up in the Himalayas and the impact of big energy projects- hydro and coal and the rise of solar and wind. In the film, Valli’s 6 year old daughter Anu who has been hearing wonderful mythological stories about the river asks why is the riverbed dried up. Mom Valli who had in her childhood spent many treasured moments by the river with her own mother, decides to get some answers.
They pack their bags and brother Marthand, set out on an adventure across the length and breath of the country. They film the social and environmental (specifically water) impact of big energy projects- hydro and coal and witness the rise of solar and wind energy.
The film Suryaganga is a journey which manages to dive right into the heart of matters taking along dam officials, affected tribals and locals, researchers and doctors among the many.
Veteran actor Mr. Naseeruddin Shah also stars in the film adding a dubious yet not entirely unfamiliar dimension to it. The treatment of the film is what makes it worth a watch and it will be premiered in the United States again on February.
