“Binti Patra”, a pro-Dalit revolutionary Movie

Kathmandu, July 6, 2006. This morning, the famous film hall Bishwa Jyoti in Kathmandu screened a revolutionary Dalit oriented film called “Binti patra” [meaning petition letter] as a premier show. In my observation, this film will be a weapon to wipe out the caste based discrimination and untouchability from our society.

The movie story line has a second hero Mr. Balram (Film name), who plays the role of a Kami youth and Mr. Chandre, a Damai youth (also a close friend of Balram). It starts with very horrifying and sorrowful scene of Balram, who is a laborer working for his village chief (Jimwal Shaheb). One day, he and Chandre arrive in Kathmandu seeking job, and being both Dalits they can’t find any job. In the mean time, a man helps them by providing the job in his garage, and also permits two boys for schooling. Gradually, Mr. Balram becomes the captain of a volleyball team and wins series of tournaments. In the mean time, Jyoti (acted by Sanchita Luitel) a heroin falls in love with Mr. Balram, but her friends warn her that he is a Dalit. Because of her peer pressure she then starts misbehaving with Balarm. After some time, Balaram saves her life from some villains, and ultimately they fall in love to each other.

Mr. Balaram gets job of a teacher in Durlung, Parbat. As a coincidence, Jyoti was from same village and the daughter of same Jimwal. Some students misbehave with Balram considering him an untouchable in the school as well. The assistant of Jimwal (a Brahmin character) knows about the love of Balaram and Jyoti which becomes a matter of great tension for Jimwal family. He locks her into a room but she escapes from there. Jimwal and some villains beat Balram, and they also stab Jyoti to death.

After some days, Jyoti’s brother Sushil (acted by Sushil Chhetri) returns from a foreign country. He is warmly welcomed by the villagers. However, he was unhappy when he returns home, as he couldn’t find his sister. After hearing about her whole incident, he decides to fight against all forms of discrimination. One day when a Dalit woman is beaten for touching a water pot in tap, he fights with villagers and threatens them. Similarly, another day, a Gaine boy is beaten in a temple incident where Balram and his friends have been fighting with so-called non Dalits, Sushil doesn’t allow them to fight against each other, rather he cuts the hands of the priest and mix up with blood of a Dalit, as he delivers a very sensational dialogue in revolutionary tone. And, after this scene, he asks Balaram to make a peaceful plan to fight against discrimination. Finally, they all (Jimwal, Priest, Villagers, Balram and Sushil alike) get together to start raising the awareness in the village, and read a petition letter “Binti Patra” for eliminating the discrimination.

In my view, there was a two pronged strategy to wipe out the untouchability- one through the unity among Dalits and another raising awareness and support of pro-Dalit people. Sushil being a non-Dalit youth has played a positively vital role to make the people understand about discrimination and the values of human rights, and simultaneously Balaram represented a Dalit youth who has struggled for the emancipation of Dalits.

This film was produced by Ms. Shakuntala Rasali and was directed by Mr. Promod Bhandari. The story was written by Mr Suraj Ramdam who also acted as Balaram. The music was composed by Laxman Sesh and Rameshwor Burlakoti.

This very brief and random description may not portray a perfect review of the movie. In order to have more insights of the whole movie, one and all are rather advised to see it for themselves, and also promote it for screening in villages, towns and cities of Nepal, which in turn may contribute to ultimate emancipation of Dalits.

Report by Mom Bishwakarma