With an evergreen twinkle in her eye, Dhauli from Bangladesh (who lives in India post her marriage) awaits the day of the village fair. It’s aptly named ‘Milan Bazaar,’ and here she can finally reunite briefly with her family from across the border and exchange gifts over the barbed wire fence that divides them. Meanwhile Rekha, a lonely Punjabi housewife, visits the Wagah border that separates the Indian city of Amritsar from Lahore in Pakistan for the first time. This is despite it being a stone’s throw away from her home; she proudly revels in the spirit of patriotism.
Deepa, a bright and young Pakistani migrant living with fellow migrants in Jodhpur, Rajasthan adamantly clutches on to her sense of humour and sense of self. However, she has all but lost the desire to smile since her ambitions of becoming a nurse remain unfulfilled. Two young women in Nepal keep close watch at a border checkpoint and protect gullible young women from falling prey to sketchy promises of a new life beyond the border from conniving traffickers.
The Touching Stories of Border Dwellers
In yet another small town, Manipuri filmmaker Surajkanta relentlessly produces independent short films via traditional practices of filmmaking to keep the spirit of cinema and revolution alive in his state. And lastly, Noor, a survivor of human trafficking waits. She relishes the opportunity to reunite with her female lover so they can return to her home in Bangladesh and rebuild their lives. These are just a handful of the stories of the border dwellers that filmmaker Samarth Mahajan brings to the fore in his documentary “Borderlands.”
A scene from “Borderlands.” (Photo: Mumbai Film Festival).
What is absolutely captivating about these stories is the focus remains on what one loses and gains (regardless of age, socioeconomic status, sexuality, gender, etc.) when a border is built. These borders not only divide lands and nations, but also communities, families, and lifelong bonds. Dhauli never lets the barbed wire fence separating her from her family lessen her love for them, and has learned to live with it. She even incorporates it into her daily chores by utilizing it as a clothesline in one scene.
However, this isn’t the same scenario for a disgruntled Deepa. She laments about the differing education system in both India and Pakistan. She finds it hard to keep up with the changes at times. This is also true for Surajkanta, who aspires to open a discourse on the plight of the overlooked North East Indian minorities through his homemade films. But regrettably he is burdened by complications, such as censorship from authority figures.
Bringing Personal Touches to this Insightful Documentary
Director Samarth Mahajan also excels at bringing a personal touch by incorporating Rekha, who is none other than his own mother, into the proceedings. He provides her a platform to confess her own real-life experiences of witnessing — and constantly living in fear of — harrowing and bloody terrorist activities despite the heavy amount of security present at the border. The sum of all these human experiences make for a compelling and heart-tugging narrative altogether.
A scene from “Borderlands.” (Photo: Mumbai Film Festival).
Despite the heavy topics that it sheds light on, “Borderlands” also features some light-hearted interactions which are equally as memorable as the serious sociopolitical issues it delves into. One such endearing scene includes Deepa showcasing her talent for the nursing profession via a roleplay between her and the interviewers. This snowballs into a laugh riot as none of the participants are able to keep a straight face during it! This further showcases the joys that even the smallest acts can bring to a person, no matter how hopeless their situation might feel.
A Strong Connection to Hope
The further inclusion of the catchy folk song “Ami Tomake Bhalobashi” enhances and amplifies this same sense of hope. It’s something each and every border dweller in this documentary holds on to, no matter their location or the severity of their circumstances. Because after all, in the end all that ultimately remains with a person through thick and thin is the immense sense of hope that there lies a silver lining beyond every border.
“Borderlands” premiered at the Mumbai Film Festival (MAMI) and won a National Award. It is currently screening at international film festivals
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