Ektara Collective's "Turup" gives a checkmate to the politics of communalism, caste divide and gender discrimination.
Set in Bhopal's Chakki Chauraha neighbourhood, the indie film also packs a subtle punch to the burning issues of love jihad, untouchability and oppression of minorities.
The film also teases an almost blink-and-you-will-miss-it reference to homosexuality, about which one of the directors, Rinchen told PTI that "it was almost not there. We don't make statement. We've left many things in the film open ended."
When asked if not showing violence expected in a setting like this was a conscious decision, one of the group members said the film was also looking at things from other perspectives.
"We chose not to show violence as it was not necessary. That could have taken away from the other things that we wanted to say. It was necessary for the dialogue to take place. If we don't show violence that does not mean it's not happening."
"Turup" is set in the area where chess is a male- dominated pastime of choice and how the story is told through the women - Lata, Monika and Neelima - whose lives are interlinked.
Ektara Collective is a joint effort of many people who come together every two years to work on a film.
The writing and direction has been done by the team of Maheen Mirza, Rinchin, Susheel, Pallav, Haissath, Madhu Jagat, among many others.
"People organically become a part of the group and keep on joining us, whether they are trained or untrained," one of the Ektara representatives said.
Rinchin said as the people associated with the group come from various walks of life that add different colours to the story, helping create a larger and better picture.
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