One day before Children's Day, Ananda~an ode to joy has been released in India, having awaited eagerly. It was one-year long work by John Devaraj, who has directed the future film, focusing on peace and war culture through the issue of child labour. The 20 Bornfree kids have enacted their own life history. Above 30 media has come to report about the film and voice out their experiences. Many of the BF children have not seen the complete movie and finally they watched! They have enjoyed every scene that they saw. Kiran, 15 says the best part is the whole part.. We have also exhibited series of photographs of all scenes taken by Frida Shanthi. Frida says that first time she has felt that she was an artist, having seen her own photographs exhibited.Venkatesh says that he likes the scene where Durga is sharing a small amount of food with street children. Gowri says that she likes that Gayathri acts as her mother, who dies from the suffering of giving a birth to Gowri. Anand says that he learned a lot from the process of making a film and appreciates that all children acted so well. He also says that we all should keep on dreaming and acting.On the 14th, November, we had the first public screening at Ragigudda Slum, J.P. Nagar with 200 slum residents. Ragi Gudda was the location where this film was shot at the very beginning. The Ragi Gudda is a very famous slum in Bangalore where the agitation by the residents have been set on fire when the Government tried to force them to leave their homes. Anand, Subramani and Murgesh come from this slum. The scene where Anand's father beats his child and wife has been shot in Anand's house and in this slum.
The Bornfree is now all set to screen this film wherever possible. Please do let us know if you are interested in screening this film in your premises; colleges, schools, cooperates, etc. Contact us by email; mioinakayama@bornfreeart.org or phone; 9886011830/9886306366. The film is to raise a question whether we want a gun or pen.....
