Kamlesh K Mishra, maker of Delhi Riots: A Tale Of Burn & Blame, says rather than giving a black and white perspective, he allows the audience to judge for themselves

Sheetal

“Out of many good things that OTT platforms helped us achieve, I feel reviving the documentary watching trend is the best part. It was much-needed,” says the National Award-winning director Kamlesh K Mishra.

With the 80-minute documentary, Delhi Riots: A Tale Of Burn & Blame, streaming on Voot, the long-time journalist in Kamlesh still breathes as he directs documentaries and travel shows to paint the real picture of society. Kamlesh’s next will be his debut feature film, Azamgarh. It stars Anil Sharma and Pankaj Tripathi and is based on terrorism.

He says, “Documentaries are not just tougher to execute as it lacks the masala which one infuses in fictional stories. While approaching Delhi Riots…, when I first thought of making a documented version of victims’ ordeal, I knew it was much controversial and involved multiple narratives and agendas. And to do justice to such a socially stirring incident, one must start with a clean slate rather than giving a black and white perspective. Let audience judge for themselves.”

This is how he says he had no difficulty getting it approved from the censor board for his approach was genuine and for the society’s greater good.

Looking at the business aspect of it, Kamlesh says, “The response has been great, and many have asked for the documentary’s private screening at local PVRs as well.” Shooting the painful memories as the victims relive it was a challenge. He says, “We started from the first week of March and by the time the lockdown began, we were done with the shooting part. ”

The biggest take-away from this trip down the violent roads of Delhi in February, he informs, “is that common people don’t want unrest and violence, nor they have time for it. But, it is also a fact that every riot gives birth to new rioters.”