The divas posse is footloose. When we're on the road, we leave as much as possible to serendipity. Alas, the realities of documentary-making require some planning; when it's 120 degrees and there's nary a diva in sight, it helps to have a back-up. Enter our fearless, ever-patient and politic producer, Julie Costanzo. She scouted out our trail in India a week before the rest of us arrived.
Part of her multidimensional job is to make sure that none of our rickshaw tires have leaks and that our divas will be in town and willing to put up with our cameras for a few days.
For a glimpse at some of the behind-the-scenes blood 'n sweat that goes into putting together our episodes, have a look at these highlights from the shooting script that resulted from Julie's 10-day scout:
DELHI We begin our pilgrimage in India's capital — a city choked by pollution and population. There are two possible reactions to Delhi: you will either be intoxicated by the rich odors, incessant auto horns, shouting merchants, indescribable colors and textures or…repelled by them.
Things to explore:
old vs. new Delhi
multiple forms of chaos and transportation
Images to capture:
Birla Temple (Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity)
India Gate
Parliament House
Red Fort Humayan's Tomb
Janter Mantar (Sun Clock)
Jama Massid (Mosque)
Lotus Temple
Kalkaji Temple
Divas:
Dr. Kiran Bedi — founder of two non-profit organizations, prison reformer, author, humanitarian and visionary…We'll spend the day with Kiran during her training exercises for the Delhi police force.
Shubha Mudgal — classical singer, pop musician, MTV India star. Shubha says: "The classical world is snide about money and fame. I can't reject them, nor am I bound by them. It's a way of getting to know my voice." She is very open and spontaneous. Virgin records will provide concert footage and music videos. Check out a samplingof her
tunes here.
Phoolan Devi — India's "Bandit Queen" — hero to many, criminal to some. Born of extremely low caste and forced to marry at the age of ten, she is a born fighter and revolutionary. She turned to banditry after leaving her husband and being gang raped by a village of men. Devi is probably best known for seeking retribution for her assault by killing the 22 assailants. She was pursued by officials, eventually surrendered publicly, and, under her terms, was imprisoned for 13 years. She is now an elected member of Parliament, voted in because of her overwhelming popularity with "low caste" masses. [NOTE: Holly and the crew did meet Phoolan Devi briefly during their visit in April. Just a few months later, on July 25, 2001, Phoolan was shot dead outside her home by masked gunmen.]
JAIPUR Jaipur is
the capital of Rajasthan and home to India's famous palaces
(though the palaces seem tired, and not so regal). This is
where you can find the Rajasthany — men in bright turbans with
handlebar mustaches and a touch of the royal India to which
we've all been exposed.
Images to capture:
City Palace (one of the more spruced up palaces, where
filming inside the palace walls may be possible)
Hawa Mahal (The Palace of the Winds)
Jaigarth Fort
Amber Palace (which is an incredibly steep climb, tiring
as hell, but where we might shoot Holly on an elephant)
We also want to try and capture the "Pink City" — which is
really a funky orange — and not so breathtaking.
Our hotel was once a palace (though small), and could
offer a good opportunity for some unabashed stand-ups.
Diva:
Alice Garg — founder and secretary of Bal Rashmi ("to raise
up, the child or young ones"). Fearless activist on everything from women's rights to public health. She has a ready smile, and is
completely forthcoming. Her presence is very gentle and
reassuring. We'll meet Alice in her home,
also the office for Bal Rashmi, where we'll see her shell
collection — for which she's building a museum. (It will house
the only shell museum in Rajastan. Go figure. It's the
desert!). We'll then take off in Alice's jeep to visit a
watershed program and a school in a nearby village.
AHMEDABAD Ahmehabad
is home to India's textile business. At first impression, it's
a dirty city, with an unappealing combination of the modern
and bland. But Gandhi's ashram, where he spent most of his
time, is here. The ashram is a complex of buildings now
housing his museum. The museum is modest, and not visually
arresting, but walking along the life-sized quotes, seen in
his handwriting, is truly inspiring. From whispers to deeply
held convictions to posters of Gandhi's "principles," hints of
the man and his way — of passive resistance against injustice
— are everywhere in India.
Diva:
Ela Bhatt — founder of SEWA, Single Employed Women's Association,
— a
300,000-woman-strong community that works tirelessly to create
self-reliance in women. She says, "When a steady
income is garnered by a woman, she finds her voice." SEWA's
offices are housed in a deceivingly decrepit building, but
inside the walls, members' names are followed by
Behn, which means Sister, the standard manner of
address here. The SEWA bank loans women
money and allows them to set up bank accounts in their names
only. We'll shoot Ela at home, then head to the
bank, and then to a village. SEWA suggests the milk
collective, and we'll pursue textiles. Note: May speak to Ela
as a business woman in India, as well as a humanitarian.
MUMBAI (a.k.a. Bombay) Mumbai is
known as the gateway to India…
Divas:
Ruchira Gupta — journalist-turned-activist. Founder of Apne Aap ("On
Our Own"), a shelter for prostitutes, madams and their daughters.
Prostitutes become "members" and are welcome any time during
the day to sleep, bathe or drop off their daughters for care. We'll interview Ruchira, film the center and take a
small digital camera into the brothels. An outing has been
planned for our benefit; the daughters of the prostitutes are
going to a water park for the day.
Anuradha Pal and Ila Pal — Anuradha
is a famous player of the tabla, the Indian drum… "a
man's instrument." She's
young, accomplished and confident. Ila Pal, her mother, is a painter and a writer, and the
classic upper caste Indian mother. As one critic said of her,
"Ila Pal is not a prolific painter of images. But when she
comes up with a body of work, it is reigned by a burning ethos
of a singular statement." Ila will serve as an additional
artist to balance to the show, and the mother/daughter combo
could be interesting. We'll head over to Ila's studio for a
tour of her work. THE HIMALAYAS, UTTARKASHI The stunning drive to base camp is a pilgrimage in
itself. Here, on their heads women carry loads bigger than
themselves up mountain roads; small village imagery and beauty
abound. Once we arrive in Uttarkashi, it feels like we're in
cross between Blade Runner and an ancient Asian town.
We follow the Ganga (Ganges) river, the door of the gods, and one of,
if not the holiest waterways in India. Indians believe
that bathing in the river abolishes one's sins, so most
Indians make the pilgrimage here at least once in their
lifetime.
Diva:
Bachendri
Pal — the first Indian woman to summit Mt. Everest. She runs a
training camp for Tata Steel, the GM-like corporation of
India. All management trainees of Tata Steel are required to
take Pal's course to build teamwork through survival skills.
Bachendri's insights are strong, confident and full of life.
The exercise we stumbled upon was "survival night," an
activity where the men go into the woods, set up their own
camps, and alas, even cook their own dinner — a requirement
precipitating much discussion among the trainees (Bachendri's
observations on men learning to be independent are quite
humorous). Bachendri believes her greatest achievement was in
leading a 12-woman team who summited Mt. Everest. She's
independent and spirited yet completely dedicated to others.
She'd like to do her interview in Hindi, although her English
and expressions are extraordinary. Holly and Bachendri might
go for a trek, if not a climb.
