andPeace, 2002)narratedthe riseof
misplacednationalismthroughjin-
goisticevents,Reasonspeaks of the
resultsof following thatagenda.
Reasonpremiered at the Toronto
International Film Festival in
September2018.Thedocumentary
wonthe awardfor the bestfilm at the
2018 International FilmFestivalat
Amsterdam.“Thejuryvoted ‘unan-
imously’ for Patwardhan’s 261-
minute film, praising its epic
storytellingof theriseof theFar
Rightin oneof themostpopulated
countries of thisplanet...in a way
thatacknowledges the complexity of
thesituationbutputsit in a very
understandableshape,”a media re-
leasefromthe organiserssaid.
Patwardhanexplainson his web
page:“Reasontakesus to a macro-
cosm—India, the world’s largest
democracy.Its eightchaptersarea
chillingaccountof howmurderand
mindcontrolarebeing appliedto
systematically dismantle secular
democracyin a countrywhichonce
aspirednot justto liberty,egalite and
fraternity,butto leadthepost-war
worldoutof its mindlessspiralof
violenceandgreed. Andyet, the
battlefor reasonis notlost.Evenas
Brahminism(a priest-ordained caste
hierarchy thatwithheldknowledge
fromtheworking castes)drapesit-
self in the nationalflag andsendsout
its hitsquads,resistance hasnot
ended.Foreverybraverationalist
gunneddownor drivento suicide,
manymore take up the mantle.
Reasonis thenbotha warninganda
promise.”AREASONTOWATCH
“In the past, Patwardhan’sfilms were
onlyaccessibleto thosewhoknew
wheretofind them.Dueto the lackof
censorboardclearance, youwould
haveto seekthemout.Althoughthe
film-makertriedto putthemin the
publicdomain,theywould usuallybe
watchedby peoplewhowereon the
samepageas him.Withthe Internet,
the reachis unimaginable.Thisfilm
needsto be publicised.I canonly
prayhe remains safe.It takesgutsto
do a movie suchas this,”said afilm
criticin Mumbai.
Thefilm canbe viewed in 16 epis-
odeson YouTube.Eachpart is a
powerful anddeeplydisturbingcap-
sule.All episodes beginwitha visual
of a hidden rideron a motorcycle
goingthrougha lonelyroadat night.
It cutsto showfourback-to-back
profile photographsof Dabholkar,Pansare, Kalburgi and Gauri
Lankesh.Thephotographsareac-
companied by loudgunshots. A dra-
maticandsignificant beginning that
setsthe toneof the documentary.
Thefilm’sfirst twochaptersare
aboutthe murdersof Dabholkarand
Pansare. Patwardhanhasrarefoot-
ageof theirlecturesandspeeches.
BothDabholkarandPansareoften
spokeat gatheringsto helppeople
understand theevilsof superstition
andcasteism.In onescene,Dab-
holkaris seendebunkinga godman
whoputsa spearthroughhis tongue
by showingthe audiencehowa mod-
ified spearis usedto do thistrick.
Patwardhan’s interviewwithDab-
holkar’swifepoignantlybringsout
the couple’ssimplelifestylethatwas
dedicated to helping weaker and
marginalised communities. Simil-
arly,Pansare’s familyspeaks about
his relentlessworkwithfarmersand
labourers. An interview with a
farmerwhospeaksabout “Comrade
Pansare” withtearsin his eyesis es-
peciallypoignant.
Hyper Hindutvais a recurring
themethroughthefilm. Patwardhan
showsyouthsshoutingslogans and
workingthemselves intoa rage,pro-
claimingtheywillfight for a HinduHYPERHINDUTVAis a recurringthemein thedocumentary.