Jamia violence left an indelible impact on me, says filmmaker Payal Kapadia

Award-winning filmmaker Payal Kapadia explores the impact of violence at Jamia Millia Islamia in her film A Night of Knowing Nothing.

Noted filmmaker Payal Kapadia on Saturday said the violence on the Jamia Millia Islamia campus in 2020 against the backdrop of anti-CAA protests left an indelible impact on her, which she tried to portray in the feature film A Night of Knowing Nothing.

“When we saw the Jamia footage, we felt this overwhelming emotion. We tried to frame the film through that emotion,” said the 38-year-old director.

The award-winning 2021 film about students’ protests at Indian university campuses was screened on Saturday at the India International Centre (IIC) as part of the Asian Women’s Film Festival. It was selected for the Directors’ Fortnight section at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.

“The people of Delhi would be familiar with what’s shown in the film. Sorry for reminding you... but it’s good not to forget,” said Ms. Kapadia

She added that her films, which often blend fact with fiction, are a form of negotiation between “interpersonal relationships and the larger politics of our country”.

In 2015, Ms. Kapadia led a student protest at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune against actor-turned-politician Gajendra Chauhan, who had been appointed as the institute’s chairman. The students called the appointment “politically motivated.” The 139-day protest led to Ms. Kapadia and 34 other students being booked on several charges, including unlawful assembly and rioting.