Farming the Revolution
Indian farmers raise an epic protest against newly enacted farm laws, reaping a rare victory over the state.
In November 2020, Gurbaz Sangha, a young farmer from Punjab, embarked on a remarkable journey. Riding his tractor 400 kilometres to Delhi, he joined forces with thousands, and later more than half a million, men and women from many parts of the country. Their united mission: to stand against the newly enacted farm laws. These farmers believed that if implemented, these laws would negatively impact the government-protected farmers’ markets, leaving the farmers to the vagaries of the free market. Amid a COVID lockdown, the farmers – representing over half of India’s workforce – vowed to remain at the borders until the laws were repealed. The protest cities that mushroomed outside Delhi created a parallel world where they redefined co-existence, with women emerging as equal political partners. Day after day, the protesters – largely overlooked by the mainstream media – showcased India’s pluralistic, defiant and resilient spirit. As the movement gained momentum, farmers from across the country, along with trade unions of industrial workers,rallied in solidarity. The scale of these protests echoed the spirit of India’s independence movement, culminating in an unexpected, triumphant outcome.
Technical Specifications
Original title Inqilab di Kheti
Year 2024
Length 105 min
Language Hindi, Panjabi
Production company Raintree Films, Little Big Story, in co-production with Piraya Film
Production country India, France, Norway
Sales/Distribution Cinephil
Website
IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32058765/
Gallery
Awards & nominations
2024
Best International Feature Documentary Award, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Toronto
Festivals
2024
Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Toronto (world premiere)