‘Don’t hold back, just do it’

KARACHI:

Around the globe, documentaries are becoming the new medium people use to highlight critical social issues.

“Not every documentary may be nominated for an Oscar but still do it,” Indian documentary film-maker Rafeeq Ellias told the participants of a session titled ‘Documentaries Workshop’ on the final day of the 7th Karachi Literature Festival.

Ellias was a trade union activist in his 20s before he became a professional photographer. Shortly after that, he finally found his true passion in film-making, which he continues to do till today.

And that was when he discovered, for the first time, the tiny Indian Chinese community living in Bombay. “You don’t only cover issues; you also make discoveries,” he told the audience, mostly comprising young art students who had arrived bright eyed and bushy tailed for one of the first sessions of the day.

Proudly describing his discovery, Ellias explained how in his documentary he searched for a once famous Chinese noodle seller and the story evolved from there. Titled ‘The Legend of Fat Mama’, the documentary explores Chinese culture, food and the painful division of the community between the two countries.

“Since the 1962 war between India and China, the people did not know about the Chinese living in China Town, a locality in Bombay,” he briefly explained before displaying parts of the documentary. He asked participants to just start working on documentaries on any idea they may have in their minds. “Don’t hold back, just go and do it,” urged the film-maker, adding that people should make use of the tools they have available, such as iPhones and other mobile phones.



Speaking on the importance of the topics and issues for a documentary, Ellias was of the view that great content meant half the work was already completed. He explained to the eager participants how their work could have an impact on society by saying, “Every film changes you. You will be a different man every time.” He opined, however, that it may not be completely possible to be objective in the work. “We claim to be objective but it is not fully possible. You can’t be so neutral,” he stated.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th,  2016.