Red Ant Dream
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''Red Ant Dream'' (Hindi: माटी के लाल) is a 2013 documentary film directed by
Sanjay Kak Sanjay Kak (born 1958) is an Indian author, activist and self-taught film-maker. He is known for his documentaries about environmental activism and resistance politics. Background and education Kak was born into a family of Kashmiri Pandits, b ...
. This documentary is based on the rebel Maoist movement in India. The documentary has been screened in various cities in India since 8 May 2013. It follows the Maoist protests and ambushes which feature the circumstances and environments of the
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
. It sheds light on what goes on with the
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
, what they are fighting for where they have been allegedly mistreated by the government. The movement is said to be based on
Bhagat Singh Bhagat Singh (27 September 1907 – 23 March 1931) was an Indian anti-colonial revolutionary who participated in the mistaken murder of a junior British police officer in December 1928 in what was intended to be retaliation for the deat ...
and Avtar Sandu Singh "Pash", who are the faces for the Maoist movement in India. The film follows all parts of India where the Maoist movement exists and discusses the problems that they allegedly face such as: harsh living conditions and being on constant look out for
Police in India Law enforcement in India is imperative to keep law and Law and order (politics), order in the nation. Law of India, Indian law is enforced by a number of Law enforcement agency, agencies. India has a multi-layered law enforcement structure wi ...
. The documentary has a focus on the types of protests that the
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
hold like singing, marching and chanting together. The documentary portrays how
guerilla warfare Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians, which may include recruited children, use ambushes, sabotage, terrorism ...
is a necessary tactic that has "made it impossible for them to be targeted". It is also claimed that there is no other way to defend themselves from Operation Green Hunt, an operation put in place by the
Indian Government The Government of India (ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of 36 states and union territor ...
to eradicate the
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
. The
operation Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...
included 4000 Police Officers led by around 600 elite commanders of the Anti-Naxal Cobra Force which is the biggest ever counter-revolutionary operation.


Synopsis

This documentary deals with the issue of " Maoist insurgency in India". It focuses on the Maoists in Bastar in
Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh (; ) is a landlocked States and union territories of India, state in Central India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ninth largest state by area, and with a population of roughly 30 million, the List ...
, tribals fighting against industrialists in
Niyamgiri The Niyamgiri is a hill range situated in the districts of Kalahandi and Rayagada in the south-west of Odisha, India. These hills are home to Dongria Kondh indigenous people. The hills have one of India's most pristine forests in the interior. ...
in
Odisha Odisha (), formerly Orissa (List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2011), is a States and union territories of India, state located in East India, Eastern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by ar ...
and protestors acting in memory of the Leftist revolutionary
Bhagat Singh Bhagat Singh (27 September 1907 – 23 March 1931) was an Indian anti-colonial revolutionary who participated in the mistaken murder of a junior British police officer in December 1928 in what was intended to be retaliation for the deat ...
in
Punjab Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
. This film portrays the people of these regions resisting oppression. The Movie begins by explaining what the catalyst was for the explosion of the Maoist movement in India which was the killing of
Bhagat Singh Bhagat Singh (27 September 1907 – 23 March 1931) was an Indian anti-colonial revolutionary who participated in the mistaken murder of a junior British police officer in December 1928 in what was intended to be retaliation for the deat ...
who was an Indian Revolutionary in the 1930s when India was Imperialized by the British, and the killing of
Pash Avtar Singh Sandhu (9 September 1950 – 23 March 1988), who wrote under the pen name Pash, was an Indian poet, one of the major poets in Punjabi of the 1970s. He was killed by Sikh extremists on 23 March 1988. His strongly left-wing views w ...
, who was a Revolutionary poet. The
Naxalites Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic ...
look to them as
martyr A martyr (, ''mártys'', 'witness' Word stem, stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party. In ...
s and try to finish what they started by continuing the Revolution. They have been called
Naxalites Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic ...
ever since the armed uprising that had flared in Naxalbari, Bengal. The first part of the film reveals how the
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
protest by showing the slogans they chant and different rally's where the leaders inspire the
Maoist Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic o ...
crowds. The film then moves into how the
Indian government The Government of India (ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of 36 states and union territor ...
treats the
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
. According to the film, the Prime Minister of India,
Manmohan Singh Manmohan Singh (26 September 1932 – 26 December 2024) was an Indian economist, bureaucrat, academician, and statesman, who served as the prime minister of India from 2004 to 2014. He was the fourth longest-serving prime minister after Jaw ...
, strongly opposed the Maoist movement labeling them as terrorists and making them his number one priority. The Maoists believe that the only real terror is State terror. The Government complains about the Maoists, but the Maoists believe the fight is for survival, everybody's survival. The film claims that there have been cases where the Government has labeled criminals not associated with
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
as
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
, in order to make them look worse to the general public. The next part of the film depicts the life of the
Naxalites Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic ...
and how they survive by living in the forests. Making it clear that at this point they are fighting for survival as Capitalist companies are devastating the forests and scheming the system in order to pay the workers less than the official rate that the Companies list, effectively leaving the workers helpless. The
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
fear that the Earth will be taken by Capitalist countries trying to make more money and will eventually leave the
Naxalites Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic ...
without a home. As the movie progresses it shows the
Maoist Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China (1912–1949), Republic o ...
guerrilla warfare Guerrilla warfare is a form of unconventional warfare in which small groups of irregular military, such as rebels, partisans, paramilitary personnel or armed civilians, which may include recruited children, use ambushes, sabotage, terrori ...
tactics: the soldiers are seen training in the forest because that is the only safe way for them to train and also the most realistic for how they fight against the government.
Kak Kak or KAK may refer to: People *Ram Chandra Kak (1893–1983), Indian politician, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir *Amar Nath Kak (1889–1963), Indian writer, brother of Ram *Siddharth Kak, Indian film and television director *Subhash Kak, I ...
then moves into footage and interviews he found with Police officers recounting details of Maoist attacks as well as victims and their families telling stories of how they or a loved one was treated by the government, throughout the next 20 minutes of the documentary. The Police officers believe that the
Naxalites Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic ...
have misled the people, trained them and in order to stop the Revolutionaries they need to turn the people on the
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
. In the next interview a woman whose husband was brutally murdered recounts the scene when he was killed. She describes him as unarmed and surrounded by police, they proceeded to beat him up, attack him with axes and knives, chop off his limbs and take his child who they have not seen since. The end of this part of the documentary shows Maoist footage of 12 police officers attacking the
Naxalites Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic ...
where the
Naxalites Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic ...
let the remaining 3 police officers surrender and go home instead of killing them. The last part of the film starts off by focusing on the people who died fighting for the cause, and the
Naxalites Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic ...
telling their story to get people to try to join the fight against the government. Since it is the end of the film
Kak Kak or KAK may refer to: People *Ram Chandra Kak (1893–1983), Indian politician, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir *Amar Nath Kak (1889–1963), Indian writer, brother of Ram *Siddharth Kak, Indian film and television director *Subhash Kak, I ...
ties it all together by reiterating the reasons the Maoists are fighting. The Indian government is allowing Capitalist companies to mine and start other special projects which lead to the displacement of the tribes and the destruction of their way of life. The
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
stress that most of the demands of the
Naxalites Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic ...
fall within the
Indian Constitution The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India, and the longest written national constitution in the world. The document lays down the framework that demarcates fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and ...
, but due to the mistreatment of the people the
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
have become cynical of the Indian Constitution, hearkening to a poem written by
Pash Avtar Singh Sandhu (9 September 1950 – 23 March 1988), who wrote under the pen name Pash, was an Indian poet, one of the major poets in Punjabi of the 1970s. He was killed by Sikh extremists on 23 March 1988. His strongly left-wing views w ...
where he declares that the
Indian Constitution The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India, and the longest written national constitution in the world. The document lays down the framework that demarcates fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and ...
is dead and not worth reading. The
Maoists Maoism, officially Mao Zedong Thought, is a variety of Marxism–Leninism that Mao Zedong developed while trying to realize a socialist revolution in the agricultural, pre-industrial society of the Republic of China and later the People's Re ...
say that the
Indian government The Government of India (ISO: Bhārata Sarakāra, legally the Union Government or Union of India or the Central Government) is the national authority of the Republic of India, located in South Asia, consisting of 36 states and union territor ...
is responsible for all of the violence occurring in
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
because the more intense and extensive havoc created by the government such as killing, torturing and raping will breed the intense resistance of the armed minorities. In the film
Kak Kak or KAK may refer to: People *Ram Chandra Kak (1893–1983), Indian politician, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir *Amar Nath Kak (1889–1963), Indian writer, brother of Ram *Siddharth Kak, Indian film and television director *Subhash Kak, I ...
includes an audio of the police getting an order to seek out any possible
Naxalites Naxalism is the communist ideology of the Naxalites or Naxals, a grouping of political and insurgent groups from India. It is influenced by Maoist political sentiment and ideology. Inspired by Maoism, Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic ...
and to kill any journalists that come to cover them. He is trying to reiterate how little the government cares about the people. The documentary ends with the people marching together and kids training to join the fight, practicing to shoot in the forests.


Production

Sanjay Kak Sanjay Kak (born 1958) is an Indian author, activist and self-taught film-maker. He is known for his documentaries about environmental activism and resistance politics. Background and education Kak was born into a family of Kashmiri Pandits, b ...
is an independent Indian filmmaker who has made other documentaries such as Jashn-e-Azadi, Words on Water which won Best Long Film prize at the International Festival of Environmental Film & Video, Brazil, and
In the Forests Hangs a Bridge IN, In or in may refer to: Dans * India (country code IN) * Indiana, United States (postal code IN) * Ingolstadt, Germany (license plate code IN) * In, Russia, a town in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast Businesses and organizations * Independen ...
which won Golden Lotus Best Documentary Film National Film Awards; Asian Gaze Award, Pusan Short Film Festival, Korea. In an interview with Red Pepper,
Kak Kak or KAK may refer to: People *Ram Chandra Kak (1893–1983), Indian politician, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir *Amar Nath Kak (1889–1963), Indian writer, brother of Ram *Siddharth Kak, Indian film and television director *Subhash Kak, I ...
talks about why he chose
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
as his subject for his documentary, saying "In
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
, the legacy of
Gandhi Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (2October 186930January 1948) was an Indian lawyer, anti-colonial nationalist, and political ethicist who employed nonviolent resistance to lead the successful campaign for India's independence from British ...
has been conveniently deployed by all sorts of political formations to delegitimise any kind of radical challenge to the form of the state. As if the inherent nature of
Indian society Indian or Indians may refer to: Associated with India * of or related to India ** Indian people ** Indian diaspora ** Languages of India ** Indian English, a dialect of the English language ** Indian cuisine Associated with indigenous peoples o ...
is 'non-violent', and vegetarian to boot! Whereas the truth is that this is a society constructed on the violence of the caste system. And this is a system that has frequently reinvented itself with the passage of time, in order to fit newer forms of social and political mobilisation." He sees himself as a political filmmaker who tries to capture beauty in complex and disturbing areas of the world. He describes "the struggle is always to find a language in film that is appropriate to one's politics" while also trying to persuade his viewers with his own political understanding. A staple of Kak's films is his use of poetry in order to connect India's past to its present noting that
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
has a very rich history of poetry in relation with resistance and it helps him to emphasize the sentiments of his subjects in his films. He is not specifically focused on the people in the margins, but notes that he focuses on the people that he is "most excited, energised and renewed by" which continues to draw him back into the theme of resistance. ''Red Ant Dream'' was financed by funds given by an
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) is the world's largest documentary film festival held annually since 1988 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Description IDFA is an independent, international meeting place for audiences ...
Fund grant and a prize from the
Busan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF; ), formerly the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held annually in Haeundae District, Busan, South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festival, held fro ...
. During the
Busan International Film Festival The Busan International Film Festival (BIFF; ), formerly the Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), held annually in Haeundae District, Busan, South Korea, is one of the most significant film festivals in Asia. The first festival, held fro ...
the Asian Cinema Fund provides filmmakers the opportunity to share their work with one another giving them a "pan-Asian network" which gives the filmmakers the ability to establish their films and "position themselves as important parts of the film industry". Their goal is to be able to show high quality Asian films around the world.


Reviews

The film has been well-received by critics. Tansuhree Bhasin, writer for
Sunday Guardian ''The Sunday Guardian'' is an Indian Sunday newspaper, founded by journalist and politician M. J. Akbar. It is owned by iTV Network, which also runs the India News and NewsX channels. It was launched on 31 January 2010 from New Delhi and is ...
, in his review of Red Ant Dream, said "In a sense ''Red Ant Dream'' gives a face to what the state calls the 'greatest internal security threat' to the country". He notes how
Kak Kak or KAK may refer to: People *Ram Chandra Kak (1893–1983), Indian politician, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir *Amar Nath Kak (1889–1963), Indian writer, brother of Ram *Siddharth Kak, Indian film and television director *Subhash Kak, I ...
has been outspoken about the Indian state's allegedly oppressive regime and it's "dodgy affair with capitalism and foreign investment"


References


External links

* * {{IMDb title, 3122666, Red Ant Dream __FORCETOC__ Indian documentary films Films about Naxalism Documentary films about politics 2013 films 2013 documentary films