K R Manoj: A Pestering Journey

K R Manoj's documentary 'A Pestering Journey' recently won the Vasudha Award for Best Environmental film 2011, at IFFI 2011, Goa but its makers are more interested in pursuing the cause than promoting the movie these days.
A chance journey to Kasargod for a documentary became a turning point for filmmaker K R Manoj. While shooting in the villages there, he couldn't but notice the families around hit by the endosulphan tragedy. Every house, every family seemed to have a story to tell. As Manoj researched more about the phenomenon, the idea of a documentary - a much more powerful one - gradually took seed in his mind. "At each stage, it became increasingly clear to me that I had to make a movie on it; that we needed to delve deeper into the subject."
The completed documentary A Pestering Journey - has now been screened at film festivals all over India, and reaped a slew of awards - the latest being the Vasudha Award for Best Environmental Film 2011, at IFFI 2011, Goa. By this time, its director K R Manoj and crew were so involved in the cause that the movie became just a vehicle for them. "We screened it at the IISc Bangalore where they not only received it well but added it to their reference library as well. We want to get it screened in more universities, before experts and those in power, because they are the ones who can do something about it."
The 66-minute movie traces the history of the Endosulphan tragedy, right from the time it was first used 20 years back, through the turning point in 1999 when the first case was filed to the latest developments, including the references in the Stockholm convention.
The movie is divided into two parts; the first half revolving around the similarly grim situation in the villages of South Punjab, from where the notorious 'cancer train' chugs its way to Bikaner, where the nearest cancer hospital is located. The journey continues and stops at Kasargode, where again, there is a data which is yet to be uncovered.
The film, shot in HD, and scripted by Ranjini Krishnan, stands out in technical brilliance as well. Cinematographer S hehnad Jalaland sound mixer N Harikumardid their job for free, as a way of showing their support to the cause. (The film later won the award for Best Cinematography at IDSFFK 2011). The makers are also trying to gain the attention of Parliament members before the Pesticide Management Bill comes into discussion. K R Manoj is glad that NDTV 24x7 has bought the rights of the movie but points out that however relevant they are, documentaries are rarely sought-after in TV channels.