Date: 23-11-2015
Description: Our Metropolis, a documentary directed by Gautam Sonti and Usha Rao was screened at IIITB on 23rd November 2015. It was organized by Balaji Parthasarathy and Kavitha Narayanan as a part of the course HSS 102 – The City. The screening was followed by a discussion with the directors of the film.
About the documentary:
Bangalore is being refashioned as a ‘world-class’ metropolis. Livelihoods and homes make way for flyovers, glitzy malls and a shiny Metro. Threatened with violent transformation of their city, residents confront the authorities. Beneath the State’s ideal of a ‘global’ city lurks the intent to clear a pasture for big business.
The film captures the city of Bangalore from 2008-2013, a period of dramatic transformation: the building of the Metro; mushrooming of swanky malls and gated communities; destruction of homes, livelihoods and shrinking green cover. Many felt that the State had ignored social justice, environmental concerns and basic principles of democratic governance in its haste to build a global city. Consequently this period witnessed escalated conflict between authorities and city residents.
The documentary has been screened at multiple locations including a number of international film festivals such as the Dubai International Film Festival, Seoul International Architecture Film Festival and most recently the Iran International Documentary Film Festival. For more details you can visit .