The largest mangrove forest in the world, the Sunderbans, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is home to the royal Bengal tiger. Though much effort has been given to the protection and conservation of this endangered species of wildlife, it is surprising that hardly any thought has gone into taking care of or supporting the unfortunate victims of these man-eating tigers.
The documentary short film The Victims of Sundarbans sheds light on the plight of the poverty-stricken villagers of the Sunderbans, particularly the widows and families of those who have lost their life to tiger attacks. A special screening of the film was held on the evening of May 29 at Cinepolis in Acropolis Mall. Hosted by Orion Entertainment, the screening was attended by some of the cast members of The Victims of Sundarbans, who are survivors of attacks or their family members. Also present were its story and screenplay writer Olivia Dunlop, director Dilip Ghosh, music director Surojit Chatterjee, and producer Purnendu Roy.
A haunting image from the documentary
A winner of numerous international awards, including the Brooklyn International Short Awards, Cannes Independent Shorts, New York Movie Awards, Paris Film Awards, Dublin International Film Awards, and the Tokyo International Cinema Awards, and at festivals like the Rotterdam Independent Film Festival, Hollywood World Film Festival, Rome International Short Festival, and Stockholm Short Festival, to name a few, the documentary focuses on the harrowing lives of families living in the villages of the Sunderbans.
Cast members along with Purnendu Roy (extreme left) and Olivia Dunlop (dressed in black) at the poster launch of The Victims of Sundarbans. “The Victims of Sundarbans isn’t just a film, it’s an emotion, it’s a voice for those who are unheard, unspoken of and uncared for. Their stories are the truth, a part of their lives which is so painful that they can’t even express. They are stuck between the forest on one side, the sea on the other, and the tiger attacks which are but natural in their villages. I’m incredibly proud of my team for bringing this story to the world,” said Purnendu Roy. “This film is a result of the work that Genesis Educational Charitable Trust has been doing in the villages of the Sunderbans for the last 12 years. We have built a school for the local children that is going to be launched next year. I think it is very important to take care of these people and I am glad that some of them, who have been a part of the film, are here with us today,” said Olivia Dunlop, who is also associated with the trust.
Besides raising important questions on the human-animal conflict and the urgent need to address it, the film offers suggestions on ways to help victims, and on creating a sustainable ecosystem. Through the narration of true, horrific stories of tragedy and survival, it brought forth the harsh, paradoxical reality of the villagers’ existence, where the very environment that gave them their livelihood, also took away their lives. Its music, which resonates the simplicity of locals, at the same time giving a sense of the forest’s impending dangers, celebrates the struggle, optimism and the undying spirit of the locals, which never lets dampen their resolve to lead better, safer lives, in spite of the odds.
The screening of the documentary was followed by the unveiling of the trailer of Talk the Void, a short film on mental health issues, written and directed by Asif Iqbal.
