Working inside/out films division: the discursive documentary practices of Joshy Joseph

ABSTRACT

Films Division stands as one of the pioneering institutions in post-independent India that played a crucial role in shaping and envisioning the country's identity as a post-colonial nation. Established in 1948, it is the largest repository of moving images in India. Despite being a state-regulated institution responsible for overseeing the production and distribution of newsreels and documentary films to support the objectives of nation building, integration, and development, there is a school of filmmakers inside Films Division who made films beyond the perceived boundaries of the institution. Identified as the 'transient outliers', these filmmakers have created experimental films within Films Division that challenged the collective and homogeneous vision of Films Division films. Joshy Joseph is one among the transgressive voices within the institution who has created innovative and experimental cinematic works despite operating within the confines of state censorship. In the context of the recent decision by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to merge Films Division with the National Film Development Corporation, this interview with Joseph explores his life and politics as a filmmaker in Films Division. The interview also delves into Joseph's creative contributions, including innovative editing, incorporation of found footage, and utilization of still images, which emphasize his unique cinematic style.

KEYWORDS:

• Indian documentary
• Joshy Joseph
• Films Division

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 Irom Chanu Sharmila, also known as the ‘Iron Lady of Manipur,’ is an Indian civil rights activist and poet from Manipur. Starting a hunger strike on 5 November 2000, she aimed to abolish the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, which grants Indian armed forces extensive powers. The strike lasted 16 years, concluding on 9 August 2016.

2 The term ‘Malayalee’ refers to an individual who hails from the Indian state of Kerala or has roots in the Malayalam-speaking region.

3 Kadamakkudy is an island close to the city of Kochi in the Indian state of Kerala.

4 The North Eastern States in India refer to the group of states located in the northeastern region of the country.

5 Mahasweta Devi was a prominent Indian writer known for her literary works such as Mother of 1084 (1974), Rudali (1993) and Breast Stories (1997).

6 West Bengal is a state located in the eastern part of India.

7 Doordarshan is the public service broadcaster of India.

8 Bharatiya Janata Party is one of the major right wing political parties in India.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rajesh James

Rajesh James is an independent documentary filmmaker and an Assistant Professor of English at Sacred Heart College, Kochi (India). His major documentary films include Slaves of the Empire (2024), In Thunder, Lightning and Rain (2019) Naked Wheels (2017) and Zebra Lines (2014). Shaped by the conventions of cinema verite and ethnography, his key thematic concerns are gender, caste and, subalternity as refracted through the prism of labor. He was awarded Riyad Wadia Award for the Best Emerging Filmmaker, India in 2017.