Watching Pradip’s film (Faecal Attraction: The Political Economy of Defecation) reminded me of a feature film made back in 1946. Neecha Nagar (AKA Lowly City, Chetan Anand, 1946) is a film, which has a special place in the history of Indian cinema. The film was supported by the IPTA (Indian Peoples’ Theatre Association)- one of the most successful (along with the Progressive Writers’ Movement) left cultural movements in India. Chetan Anand’s cinema was socialist – realist, imbued with the energy of these cultural movements. The film Neecha Nagar adapted from a story by Gorky (The Lower Depths) is about class division as seen through a sewage situation. A rich landlord lives on top of a valley- the higher city- and his sewage contaminates the water of the people who live down below (Neecha Nagar). The film shows the compliance of the authorities in abetting this situation. The city down below lives in filth and disease, an underside to the city up there with its beautiful mansions. As the project of beautifying our cities and rivers (as Pradip’s film shows us) gathers pace, there is a Neecha Nagar out there where all the filth is shut away. It’s interesting how a film made in 1946 carries political resonances of a reality that we inhabit today.
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Hey Meenu, it’s Sophia here (fellow blogger, from Mesocosm). Great to meet you at Pradip’s seminar. Do get in touch if you’d like me to put you in contact with my friends who write a lot about Nepal,
cheers,
-Sophia
The article truly describes the work of highly talented and sensitive filmmaker Chetan Anand who made many socially relevant movies like Haqeeqat,Heer Ranjha,Hanste Zakhm,Hindustan Ki Kasam,Kudrat,Taxi Driver ,Akhiri Khat,Kinare Kinare…….The movies were ahead of times and thought provoking till date and people have tried several times to copy them.
Hats off to Chetan Anand !!!
Do you know if any of these films are available on VCD/DVD? And have you had a chance to look at Dev Anand’s biography that was recently released? I haven’t and would love to know from someone who has.
Yes, all the cited movies are available on VCD/DVD on SHEMAROO EAGLE and ULTRA.I personally have them.
I also have Dev Anand biography written by ALPANA CHOWDHARY ,the book called “Dev Anand Dashing Debonair “.
I strictly advise you not to purchase the book because it does not describe him in detail .All stuff in that book you can find on internet.And most important that it does not provide any account of his work done after 1970s.
It also says that Gambler was a mediocre movie.Also it does not mention his movie called Manpasand .There are many other flaws.
Instead, Dev Anand has completed his own autobiography which is 700 pages long and will release on 26 Sep 2007 when the hero turns 84.
Thanks Subhash. You have inspired me to go get the entire collection of Dev Anand and relook at all his films. Yes I was asking about the biography that he has just finished writing. Didn’t realise it wasn’t out yet. You seem to really love his films and I would really like to hear from you what in your analysis makes Dev Anand so special? And this is to do with my PhD research- which are the films of Dev Anand which are either entirely shot or partially shot in Kashmir? Thanks.