A record of the journey to the home of 7 migrant laborers
National award-winning director Vinod Kapri has made only 4 films till now, but all of those films have been remarked as unique art pieces of the history of Indian Cinema. 1232 KMS, his last documentary film, is a live documentary. Because there was no scope of retake or reshoot of this event. The film is available on Disney+Hotstar.
Subject Of The Film
In 2020, when the first wave of Covid aroused and Lockdown was imposed in India for the first time as most of the countries did while saying that it would keep control over covid-spread, a crisis burst out both socially and economically. And, as in all other cases, the poor people had to suffer most. Migrant laborers from different corners of the country had no space to live at the migrated places. People were kicking them out as the fear and untouchability regarding that fear were spread so much. People were not even giving a little water to them. And all their financial resources were finished in a few weeks. There was no government initiative for them. And the brutal torture of the police from every state was a bonus for the poor people. So the laborers had no other option to start their journey towards their home by cycle or walking, with the hope that if they die, they will die closer to home.
7 migrant laborers from Ghaziabad, came back to their home in Saharsa, Bihar. They covered a distance of 1232 km by cycle and the whole journey has been covered in the film.
Shooting Of The Film
Vinod Kapri was in Ghaziabad, covering some news according to his profession of journalism. And there he met these 7 laborers Ram Babu, Ashish, Krishna, Ritesh, Sonu, Mukesh and Sandeep. He supplied them food and water for 3-4 days. But after that, the ration was finished and they found it embarrassing to live with someone’s mercy and they left Ghaziabad without informing Kapri. When they crossed almost 60 km, Kapri came to know about them and rushed to them to shoot the entire journey. During the film, we can see the entire scenario of fierce and social crises. And most importantly, the worst situation of those people who build the nation, who build our houses, is visible in the film.
Kapri came with the film and went to Vishal Bhardwaj, and Vishal with Gulzar’s lyrics, made some heart withering songs like ‘Ore Bidesia’ and ‘Marenge To Wahi Jaa Kar’ for the film.
