Open Space Activities in November 2006

    

BOOK LAUNCH

Thursday, November 9 & November 22, 6.00pm onwards, at Open Space
Open Space invites readers to its monthly Book Tasting to read, exchange and discuss books that have touched them, changed them or helped crystalise their thoughts. Books brought to the evening can range from fiction to non-fiction, children's books, poetry etc.

Book Tasting is like a wine-tasting. Unlike a book club, it gives people a chance to get a taste of what a book is about by listening to an extract from it. In one evening, readers would be introduced to about eight different books, whetting their appetite for more.

Each participant who brings along a book makes a brief introduction to the work and its context, and then reads out a few passages that best illustrate the book's qualities and why it has touched him/her.

Each reading will be followed by a short interaction.

Book Tastings are held once a month and are open to all. The sessions will be moderated by well-known columnist Gauri Dange.

PRESENTATION & FILM SCREENING

Monday, November 13, 5.00pm onwards, at Open Space
Open Space in collaboration with the Samabhavana Society, Pune invites you to an interaction between communicators and persons involved in raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and sexuality. Experts from Samabhavana Society and Tathapi Trust will make presentations on the effective use of diverse media to disseminate messages on HIV/AIDS and sexuality, following which there will be screenings of visual messages on these issues. A discussion will follow after the screenings.

Jasmeer Thakur of Samabhavana Society, Mumbai, will speak on media representations of homosexuality, perceptions and stereotypes.

Anand Pawar of Tathapi Trust will outline his experiences of using different media like documentary films, games and exercises, participatory activities and power point presentations to understand the concept of sexuality and its politics in a workshop-training mode.
 

Breakthrough Music Video and PSAs
Maati, m usic video on HIV/AIDS, 5 min
Photo Film and Chappal Film , two 60 second PSAs on HIV/AIDS portraying stigma and victimhood.

Breakthrough, a non-profit organisation based in New Delhi , undertakes human rights education through media and popular culture.

Animation Film

A Step Ahead (Dir: Sheshagiri Yellamelli, 10 mins, English) A short animation film on HIV/AIDS prevention.

PSAs on HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention produced by BBC World Service Trust /Prasar Bharti/National Aids Control Organisation (6 mins, Hindi)

•  Father and Son
•  KBSS Truck Driver
•  Two Brothers
•  Circus
•  Cricket Helmet
•  Animated Condom

Short films produced by Samabhavana Society, Pune

A Positive Portrait (Dir: Sachin Kundalkar, 6 mins 13 sec) This is a short film portraying the life of HIV positive persons involved in high-risk sex activity. The film is made as a fast musical cut involving fictional creation personifying the protagonist who is HIV positive. The film brings out issues of stigma and fear related to HIV/AIDS and how it restricts responsible behaviour towards Safe Sex Practices.

Dhruv & I (Dir: Sachin Kundalkar, 20 mins 3 sec) This is a story of 27 year-old Aditya and his neighbour Dhruv, who is also his first love. Unwilling to reveal his sexual preferences, Aditya is afraid to express his love for Dhruv. He can only stand on the terrace of their building watching Dhruv wash his car every morning. Repressed because of this daily torment, Aditya tries many ways to express his emotions. Finally, one morning, Aditya decides to dare…

The Bath (Dir: Sachin Kundalkar,19 mins 6 sec) This short film revolves around the life of Sameer, a young man who is forced to sell his body to earn a living. The film is an attempt to portray the dilemma of male commercial sex workers who face abuse in their line of work and are also unable to fulfil their emotional needs.


DOCUMENTARY FILM SCREENING

Thursday, November 23, 6.00pm – 8.00pm, at Open Space
In the wake of recent controversies over the wearing of the ‘veil', Open Space invites you to participate in a discussion of Yasmin Kidwai's documentary film, Purdah Hai Purdah, duration: 30 mins, Hindi with English subtitles.

The film is a journey that explores the veil, the woman and the equations they share between themselves and with the world outside. Using the purdah , the film takes an exploratory journey into the lives of contemporary Indian women across religious and urban-rural divides.

The screening will be followed by a discussion moderated by Abida Khan and Nusrat Sharif who are associated with the managing committee of the Anjuman-I-Islam Institution, Pune (The Anjuman-I-Islam institution manages a Primary and Secondary school, Junior college, Polytechnic for girls, an orphanage and home for destitute women)