8 Indian Political Documentaries You Must Watch

We have to get our fundamentals in place before we can claim greatness. What does India collectively stand for? We are one nation, regardless of caste, creed or religion; and for our good and the progress of India, we must maintain this unity and unity. And the political past of India has defined where she stands today. But let's explore where we have come from and what our beautiful country has historically been subjected to understand where we are as a nation. Let's try and get to know her past before we determine India's future by watching these documentaries that must be seen.

Posted On November 30th, 2020

Pradhanmantri

This ABP News Documentary Series was released in 2013, but you've got to watch it. This takes us from 1947 to present-day India to the political fabric of India. Under any of her prime ministers, you will see India and the changes she has gone through with every election.

An Insignificant Man

The Indian government banned An Insignificant Man by Vinay Shukla and Khushboo Ranka, but it was released in 2017 in the US. Since it covers the birth of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and anti-corruption demonstrations in India, this film is a must-see. AAP was supposed to be a party for the Aam Aadmi after all but it lost its way somehow. The makers were asked to get NOCs from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, AAP founder Arvind Kejriwal, and former Delhi CM Sheila Dixit prior to the film's release. They were also asked to edit references to the BJP and to Congress. The producers disagreed with the film and wanted to distribute it overseas.

The Story of India

This documentary takes us back 10,000 years and tells us how the oldest civilisation on earth was founded in India, and when and how we have evolved since then. We know how India is poised right now, but by bringing us through the past to the present and into the future, this documentary makes us appreciate our vibrant and varied land even better. Through human migration from Africa to the Civilization of the Indus Valley, and so much more, this is the India we never saw and never understood.

Ram Ke Naam

Anand Patwardhan's Ram Ke Naam shows us a very sensitive subject: the movement of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad to demolish the Babri Masjid and build a Ram mandir in its place. The documentary tells us how an incident in 1949, when a Ram idol emerged inside the mosque, is depicted in a film. Then we see how the VHP shows us the story. The filmmaker also included comments from the Muslim community.

Inshallah, Football

Inshallah, (Ashvin Kumar's) is a beautiful documentary set in Kashmir. But this one follows the life of a budding footballer and the shame he struggles with due to the choices of his father, unlike other films that are set in the gore and brutality of the state. This documentary brings us to Kashmir's core, perfectly captures her grace, and reveals the trials and trauma common to Kashmiris because of their gruesome history and present.

War And Peace

Anand Patwardhan's War And Peace is another telling documentary that lets us understand the political fabric of India a little better. The film opens with the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi, goes on to tell us about India after independence, India's first nuclear test in 1974, the 1998 nuclear tests, the Global March for Peace and the Sangh Parivar's resistance, and of course, religious extremism.

The Final Solution

Rakesh Sharma's Final Approach teaches us about a portion of the history of India that we should remember, but we would rather disregard the Gujarat riots, where religious supremacists violently murdered both Hindus and Muslims. This film reveals a sinister storyline, even as the Gujarat riots are framed as revenge for the burning of the Godhra train. The makers admit that the protests were simply orchestrated and organized after analysis and interviews.

Jashn-E-Azadi

Another film that examines Kashmir's broken psyche is Jashn-E-Azadi by Sanjay Kak. This documentary gives us telling photos, unmarked graves, the peace and quiet of the Dal Lake, the villages of Kashmir, scenes of encounters, a stunning landscape in one scene and insurgents climbing a mountain in another, such opposites that show us the harsh reality of valley life. From 2003 to 1991 to 2004, the camera takes us through the years, all the while exposing us to the fractured heart of Kashmir as she wishes for independence from war and terrorism.