Your film deals with the issue of undertrials and fabricated cases on human rights activists, though the focus is on the issue of Abdul Nasar Maudany. Why is it so?
There are thousands of undertrials who languish in Indian jails, mostly Muslims, dalits, adivasis and activists of peoples' movements. The tendency in the last few years is that they are booking both rights activists as well as mediapersons. Abdul Nasar Maudany spent nine-and-half years in Coimbatore jail and then the judge said "you are innocent". The question is why did he spend nine-and-half years in jail only to hear these words? If this had happened in the United States, Canada, England or Australia, he would have received crores of rupees as compensation. But instead, he was targeted again with fabricated charges and sent back to prison. So far, no judge has ruled that he is guilty. The focus on Maudany is for three reasons. First, during the last 3-4 decades of my own political observation, I have not seen a single politician in Kerala who is as charismatic as he. No politician matches to his oratory skills. Such a person need not use bombs. His magic itself is his being. Second, if Maudany were an ordinary Muslim spiritual leader, he would not have been targeted at all. But he is a charismatic leader, a leader who supported dalit, adivasi and other marginalised sections – where mainstream politicians did not enter. Sitting in jail in Bangalore, he could support the Koodankulam and POSCO struggles. He is not an ordinary activist. Third, targetting Maudany has one side of sending a message to Muslims in this country, telling them that 'we can even suppress a well-known Muslim spiritual leader and not just ordinary Muslim youths who are spending their lives in jail for no reason.’ On the other hand, it is also a message to activists in this country who take up the issues of the marginalised. Therefore, Abdul Nasar Maudany is the best symbol for me to work on the entire issue of fabricated cases.
You started working on the film when the BJP was still in power in Karnataka. How is the film relevant even now?
The Congress has not taken effective steps to release him. He is still in jail. What is interesting in all these cases is that it is the Sangh Parivar which sets the agenda, and all other parties follow them like sheep. They have failed to establish a separate 'secular’ credential on their own. Maudany is also a victim of the chess game of votebanks.
So, what, then, is the larger context of the film?
When I met Maudany in jail with my friends, I asked him "what we can do for you". He told us humbly that there was some moral strength maintained by him due to the presence of some visitors every week; but there were thousands of innocents languishing in Indian prisons, and he appealed to us to do something for them. This itself is the larger context of the film. Maudany himself says, "I am not the only one". The other context is that many of these prisoners are languishing in jails due to draconian laws. It is high time that this country removes the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), sedition law, and similar other laws which are a blot on Indian democracy. Democracy will not function so long as these remain. Dr Binayak Sen was a victim of a draconian law specific to Chhattisgarh. The other context is that the film brings out an indication that the marginalised sections in this country are learning to come together. Discriminated identities on the basis of gender, religion, caste, creed, sexuality, class, etc, have no option but to come together for their own survival. Perhaps Abdul Nasar Maudany initiated this campaign on a much larger scale by claiming: 'Power to the Avarnas', and he is victimised for trying to implement this slogan.
While working on the film what were "the inner dynamics of institutions" that you discovered whereby innocent people can be framed and dumped in jails for indeterminate periods?
To a certain extent, yes. It is shocking how the agenda of the RSS is neatly executed by our police machinery, political parties, the mainstream media, and our legal system. The moment the police brands somebody as a terrorist, the mainstream media continuously follows that route, entirely depending on the source of information from the police. Apart from some exceptions, most of them do not utilise their independent heads to investigate the truth. Perhaps they do not have time to do such investigations. But that is no justification for branding innocents. So, the inner dynamics of institutions in such cases is the interdependence of institutions of power. This unquestioned power is taking a large section of Indian people away from justice. So, it is time that we remind all institutions of power to function within a broad framework of justice. Otherwise, this unquestioned power of the institutions can result in fascism without much delay.
From the displacement of Odisha tribals to the Koodankulam struggle, you have always taken up socio-political issues as the canvas for your films. Does Fabricated take your argument forward? In what way?
I have directed 25 documentaries, three feature films and two music videos. They stand together in one direction: to implement justice, peace and democracy. There are thousands of people out there crying loud for justice. All you have to do is to place a video camera in front of them and facilitate them to express themselves. When you record the voices of the voiceless, you become a finer human being. Your own problems become nothing in front of theirs. At this moment, I believe that my documentary Fabricated is my best documentary socially, creatively and politically. I may change my mind later. But, all my films are standing together in one direction for me: I am finding it more and more difficult to raise money for the films that I really want to do. But that is only an occupational hazard for those who try to combine creativity, politics, and social activism. I am relieved to note that I am not the only one facing this problem.
Your Bangalore screening is being supported by over 20 organisations. Are you (and others) looking at this film as a campaign tool?
The Bangalore screening is supported by 32 organisations. Most of them are looking forward to use it as a campaign tool. Today, if you travel from Kasargod to Thiruvanthapuram (in Kerala) by road you will see posters for the release of Maudany and for the removal of the UAPA. I am just one among those who are demanding justice. You cannot suppress truth forever. And, you cannot suppress human rights forever. My role is minimal in this larger process of evolving politics. I am only a short-term link.
[Sasi's film 'Fabricated' will be screened at the Institute of Agricultural Technolgists in Bangalore on Saturday at 4:30pm.]
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