SRINAGAR: Kashmiri filmmaker Bilal A Jan’s documentary, “JL Kaul: A Man of Action,” has been selected for the 16th International Documentary Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) 2024. It will feature in the short documentary focus section. The festival is scheduled to take place from 26 to 31 July in Kerala.
The 30-minute documentary delves into the life of Jawahar Lal Kaul, a social worker and Padma Shri awardee, highlighting his achievements and struggles as a visually impaired person. Kaul founded the All India Conference of the Blind, an NGO dedicated to the rehabilitation of blind individuals. In 2014, he was honoured with the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, for his contributions to social work.
Bilal A Jan has previously had his documentary “Daughters of Paradise” selected for the short documentary competition section of the 11th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala in 2018. His 2008 documentary, “The Lost Childhood,” was selected for the Tehran International Short Film Festival and the 10th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF), winning the Nina Sugati SR Award for “Best Director” in conceptual art in cinema in 2010.
Jan has collaborated with filmmakers Shyam Benegal and Vidhu Vinod Chopra on projects such as “Mission Kashmir,” “Netaji,” and “The Forgotten Hero.”
The film was shot in Srinagar, Delhi, and Amritsar, Punjab, taking one year to complete. Bilal A. Jan and Dr Chandra Nisha Singh conducted the research and wrote the script. Pranshu Bhardawaj and Raja Shabir managed the camera work, Ashiq Hussain edited the film, and Farooq Masoodi served as the narrator.
Challenges during shooting included finding a financier, a problem resolved with the help of friends, particularly Suhail Bakshi and Ali Mohd Rather. Another significant challenge was interacting with and understanding the life and struggles of a visually impaired individual, a subject Jan had not previously explored despite his extensive work on social issues such as child labour, women’s issues, and disasters. Additionally, filming required covering multiple locations across India, necessitating a phased shooting approach.
Jan expressed gratitude to his production team and especially to the film’s protagonist, Jawahar Lal Kaul, for their unwavering support in completing the film.
