Children of the Pyre
| Children of the Pyre | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Rajesh S. Jala |
| Produced by | Rajesh S. Jala |
| Cinematography | Rajesh S. Jala |
Release date |
|
Running time | 74 minutes |
| Country | India |
| Language | Hindi |
| Budget | US$250,000 |
Children of the Pyre (Ta paidia tis pyras) is a 2008 film documentary directed and produced by Rajesh S. Jala.[1] The film documents the experiences of seven children who cremate dead bodies and steal cremation shrouds at India's largest crematorium, Manikarnika Ghat, on the banks of the Ganges.[2][3]
Jala, also the cinematographer, shot over 100 hours of footage at the crematorium and surrounding sites, including candid interviews with the seven children described in the film, who discuss their difficult life cremating dead bodies and stealing shrouds from the bodies brought to the crematorium and reselling them to merchants for a nominal fee.[4] In 2009, the filmmaker launched a project to improve the lives of the 300 children working at the crematorium.[5]
The film was awarded "Best Documentary" at the 2008 Montréal World Film Festival,[6] 2008 São Paulo International Film Festival,[7][8], 2009 Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles,[9] 2009 Asiatica Film Mediale,[citation needed] screened at 2008 IDFA,[10] and the "Silver Lotus Award" for "Best Audiography" at the 56th National Film Awards.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Elam, Jacqueline; Pielak, Chase (2018). Corpse Encounters: An Aesthetics of Death. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 78. ISBN 978-1-4985-4393-4.
In the extraordinary 2008 documentary, Children of the Pyre, Rajesh S. Jala follows the activities of children working at one of the open-air crematoriums in the northeast Indian city of Varanasi. The viewing experience is complicated by larger, ethical issues of child labor, poverty, and the caste system of India.
- ^ The New York Times Movies
- ^ Ramnath, Nandini (22 July 2015). "From the cremation grounds in Varanasi, a rare tale of hope". Scroll.in. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ "Asia Pacific Arts: Waking Life and Death: Children of the Pyre review". Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
- ^ ""TOI" says, Spreading hope".
- ^ Borpujari, Priyanka (6 May 2011). "The Call of the Camera". Open Magazine. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ Cajueiro, Marcelo (31 October 2008). "Sao Paulo fest praises 'Stranger'". Variety (magazine). Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ Pais, Arthur J (5 June 2009). "MoMa to host New India film fest". Rediff.com. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
Rajesh S Jala's Children of the Pyre, winner of top prizes at the Montreal and São Paulo Film Festivals, is a portrait of seven Dalit boys who tend the largest open-air crematorium in Varanasi.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (28 April 2009). "Sita Sings The Blues, Children Of The Pyre share IFFLA honours". Screen Daily. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ "Children of the Pyre (2008)". IDFA. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
- ^ "Children of the Pyre | MLM". Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 12 November 2013.
External links
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