Neelam Social releases documentary on conservancy workers’ protests

Neelam Cultural Centre’s YouTube channel, Neelam Social, that had documented every development of the 13-day-long sit-in protest organised by conservancy workers, released a documentary titled ‘The Eve Before Independence Day’. The protests were organised by the workers demanding permanent jobs and end of privatisation of garbage disposal in the city. .

Founded by filmmaker Pa. Ranjith, Neelam Cultural Centre’s YouTube channel focusses on social and political issues faced by marginalised sections of society. The almost 27-minute-long documentary features video footage of how the police encircled the protesters before bringing in buses to take them out of the protest site.

Speaking to The Hindu, Neelam Magazine’s Editor, Vasugi Bhaskar, said that a three-person crew was stationed at the protest site to document every move and development in the protests.

“Our job was to record as much footage as possible. We didn’t know what we were going to do with it. However, given that mainstream media often ignores and sometimes even misrepresents the protests launched by marginalised sections, we wanted to be there,” said Mr. Bhaskar.

Rejecting the allegation made by certain sections on social media that Neelam Cultural Centre was actively involved in giving direction to the protesters, Mr. Bhaskar said that the organisation often had to face unfair and unsubstantiated slander.

“In fact, we were clear that this was their [conservancy workers] protest and that the credit belongs to them. We were merely present there to document how the State deals with such protests,” he said.