Book Title:
Dipankar Sarkar
A non-fiction film constructed around the quotidian routine between a nonagenarian and an octogenarian, interspersed with conversations as a tool for exposition, had every chance of being mundane. But under the narrative finesse of filmmaker Tanuja Chandra, the documentary Aunty Sudha Aunty Radha turns out to be a study in a symbiotic relationship woven around the daily chores and activities of the two protagonists that shape this 48-minute film.
Aunty Radha, 93, and Sudha, 86, reside in Lahra village of Uttar Pradesh. They have been living in the company of each other for years. They argue as well as bond over issues that are of little value or importance to individuals in general. But through such exchange of opinions, the two discover the stimulus to reinvigorate their lives. It appears as if they have made an accord to accept each other’s idiosyncrasies as well as companionship.
The filmmaker has known the women since her childhood and was well-acquainted with their funny, strong, unusual personalities. She decided to make a film on them when they moved to their village home to live by themselves.
The entourage of household helps forms an important component in meeting the duo’s daily requirements. Chandra says: “This motley group from different communities was such an endearing part of this idyllic existence that I had to record this. If I didn’t, this already disappearing way of life would be forever lost and we’d have no record of it.”
The cinematographic construct captures the milieu of the film quite aesthetically. Even the basic approach to the design of sound was to create a space where the two women live, the village. The expanse of the locality is totally immersed in the natural sound of birds, domestic animals, and cricket, which gives a sense of serenity and tranquility.
Chandra credits her editor, Chandan Arora for the structure he gave the film. The creative choices have shaped a genuine depiction of life, which intensifies the essential aspects of human existence, delineated through the harmonious alliance of two individuals — Aunty Sudha and Aunty Radha.
