For the first time, members of the Anglo-Indian community in the city have got together to provide a glimpse into their lives through a short film.
With an exclusive Anglo-Indian cast and crew, the film Going Away, was screened here on Monday.
The film narrates the story of an Anglo-Indian family settled in the city. The family gets perplexed after one of the family members seperates himself and flies away to Australia.
The incidents that happen in the family before the protagonist leaves for Australia forms the plot of the film.
Speaking to City Express, Harry MacLure, the director of the 43-minute film said, “Though the film is set in an Anglo-Indian background, the theme is universal.”
Harry, who is the editor and publisher of Anglos in the Wind, a quarterly magazine exclusively for Anglo-Indians being published for the past 15 years, got an opportunity to direct this film when he met Nigel Foote, the producer.
“Being an entrepreneur, I got introduced to Harry through his magazine. When he narrated the story, it impressed me very much. Then we ended up bringing out this movie,” said Nigel Foote, who is a Melbourne-based Anglo-Indian.
“There are films like 36 Chowringhee Lane directed by Aparna Sen, which speak about the lives of Anglo-Indians. But those films did not have Anglo-Indians either in the cast or the crew. This is the first time a film has Anglo-Indians both in the cast and crew,” said MacLure.
“When we approached Anglo-Indians for the cast, we got a very good response. Barring one or two technicians, most of our technical crew members are Anglo-Indians. Tamil film editor Anthony, an Anglo-Indian, has edited this film without charging a single penny,” he added.
When asked about the theatrical release of this film, Nigel said, “We have an idea of releasing the film in DVDs.”
Apart from Melbourne, Nigel Foote is also planning to start a production house in the city.
MacLure said, “We are planning a studio in Chennai. We will continue doing films alongside the magazine. We wish to bring out a featuire film as well. But currently we are busy with another documentary.”
