Dear friend,
Hello,
[b]color=#0000FF]We have captured the face of journey of suffering of every half-widow of the Kashmir at the Various points of time during last five years.These are the real testimony of the armed Conflict.[/color]
[b]color=#0000FF]Title [/color] [/b] [/b]

"I am waiting. a Half-widow of the Kashmir."

[color=#0000FF]b]Synopsis: [/b][/color]

This is a story of missing people,boys and men who were picked up by security forces and then simply disappeared.The location is Kashmir.Sandwiched between India and Pakistan,Kashmir is a battleground for both.Since the men are missing,not declared dead their wives are not widows but‘half widows’The‘half widows’need extraordinary courage in living. Personally they live with the memories of their love.They have to suddenly switch from being the woman in the veil at home to a Bread-earner. Face society who treats them as unattached property as it treats most single woman in India.The women and children tell their own stories.Their reams,fears,aspirationsand the hardships. Their faces reflect their tensions the years have gone by,many have learnt to live with their hopes and aspirations while some are still caught in conflicts with their in-laws,the state, religion and day-to-day livelihood.

Their psychiatric problems add to the statistic that Kashmir has the highest number of psychotic patients in the world. These women are true survivorsof a cruel period in the history of this ‘paradise on earth’. The security forces stand by their version of events, but staged shootouts,say human rights groups,are commonplace.The first result of a society living in the midst of war is a sharp increase in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSDT) patients.Many studies about this are going on.They are targeting women in general and generating paper reports,which people read and forget.These women have not only lost their support but are also being marginalized and have no status left in society.

Director: Shabnam Ara and SushilKumar.
Produced by: Sushil Kumar.
Writerushil Kumar.
Language:Kashmiri.
Language SubTitle:English
Duration:39.25mins.DV.

Please let me know whether you will be interested in acquiring a copy of the film for yourinstitution/library.I'd be very gratefulif you could forward information about thefilm to your colleagues and riends,especially those eachingatUniversities orworking with institutions/NGOs,asking them to support the film by buying copies.

This sounds like it could be a very interesting film. Can you contact me by email directly please Sushil?
the_macgregor*at*hotmail.com

James MacGregor
Film Editor

The posting titled Iam waiting...a half-widow of the Kashmir is based on stolen materials.
Please do remove it from your pages.

This film is a copy of the film titled waiting... directed by Shabnam Ara and Atul Gupta and produced by Delhi Biscope Company Pvt. Ltd.

Sushil Kumar, a researcher in the film stole the tapes which included a rough cut master. There is an FIR registered against Mr Sushil Kumar in this matter in the Saket Police Post.

This Public Notice was printed on 30th Aug. 2005 in the Dainik Jagran and on 31st Aug. 05 in the Dainik Kashmir times.

I am reproducing the text of the notice:

Public Notice

This is to inform the general public that one box containing the following material has been stolen from our studio/office.
Approx. 50 mini DV tapes which have footage pertaining to a documentary film related to physiological effects of conflict on women and missing people in Kashmir.
In this regard a complaint has been filed with the Saket Police Post on Aug. 6, 2005 in which Mr. Sushil Kumar has been named as the accused. The general public is warned that said Mr. Sushil Kumar or anybody else claiming any right, title or interest in the above said tapes should be patently false. Any person dealing with Mr. Sushil Kumar in respect of the above tapes shall do so at his own risk.
Signed
Atul Gupta
Director, Delhi Biscope Company Pvt. Ltd.

The final film is titled 'waiting…' and is copyright, 2005 by Delhi Biscope Company Pvt. Ltd. Any screening of the stolen materials is illegal.

I am reproducing below a email from Ms. Shabnam Ara who is also horrified by this act of Sushil Kumar.

In case you need any further clarification please do not hesitate in contacting me on my cell phone 09818031919 or by email.

Atul Gupta


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shabnam Ara < arashabnam@hotmail.com>
Date: Mar 3, 2006 5:09 PM
Subject: Re: waiting... a renewed partnership
To: 2biscope@gmail.com


Dear Atul,

I was shocked to learn from you that Mr. Sushil Kumar is claiming to be the
Writer, Producer and Director of our film on the half widows of Kashmir. I
condemn the false claim of Mr. Sushil Kumar who is apparently misusing the original film footage stolen from your studio. He is using my name without
my consent and I whole heartedly agree that strong action should be taken
against him.

Regards.


Shabnam Ara
_________________________________________________________________
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Your posting on this subject seems to make the case about the origins of this film very well. Your posting alerts people to the true position regarding the film. I think it is better that people are alerted to this rather than not being alerted. Thank you for correcting the record. I don't think any further action is required on our part.

James