Prisoners of Conscience (1978) is an important historical record of a traumatic period in India’s recent political history, the film focuses on the State of Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi from June 1975 to March 1977. During the Emergency the media was muzzled, over 100,000 people were arrested without charge and imprisoned without trial. But political prisoners existed before the Emergency, and they continue to exist even after it is over.​

Bombay: Our City (1985) tells the story of the daily battle for survival of the 4 million slum dwellers of Bombay who make up half the city’s population. Although they are Bombay’s workforce – industrial labourers, construction workers, domestic servants – they are often denied city utilities like electricity, sanitation, and water. Many slum dwellers must also face the constant threat of eviction as city authorities carry out campaigns to “beautify” the city. Bombay: Our City is an indictment of injustice and misery, and a call to action on the side of the slum dwellers.

About Anand Patwardhan: A Retrospective

Anand Patwardhan is one of India’s most acclaimed documentary filmmakers, known for over five decades of fearless, politically engaged cinema. His films are both chronicles of resistance and cinematic interventions that confront the silences of official history, and have inspired generations of activists and filmmakers worldwide.

About Cinema House

Cinema House, a collective film viewing series, creates opportunities to celebrate independent films. Every month, our black box theatre transforms into a single-screen theatre dedicated to independent, regional, and contemporary world cinema accompanied by conversations with cast, crew, and audiences.