Video albums that vouch for various causes are not a rarity, but a video album with scathing criticism on the silence of the public against bus strikes is something new to ponder over. Abdul Khader Kakkanad, who is directing the video album, says that it has been made in the hope that it would make people shun their taciturn attitude and react to the strikes, especially private bus strikes, which cause nothing but national waste.
“It’s high time someone responded to such aloofness” says Abdul Khader. “Besides the political parties are also not raising any protest against it,” he adds. He says that the menace of strikes has been portrayed through a five- minute long Mappilappattu. The song is written by V M Kutty and is sung by C H Fahad. The main role is enacted by Sakheer Aluva. The video was shot mostly in the bus stands of Kochi, especially Kaloor and Aluva.
Some of the lines of the song goes like this.....
“ Samaram ennoru bheeshani katti janatheyum valakkum.
Muttinu muttinu chargukal koottithannishatngal nadathum
Bharanakarkkum ithiloru ohari panku vechu kodukkum
Kittiya thundukal vetti vizhungi ivaro pottan kalikkum”
Abdul Khader and C H Fahad also claim that it is the first-of-its-kind protest album ever released against private bus strikes in the state. Abdul Khader says that such an idea sprouted when a consumers’ association approached them to make a product which would openly decry the silence of the masses. They add that they are going to make the utmost use of social networking sites and media - both print and electronic - to spread word of their protest.
“We will upload the video in You tube, Face book and other sites. We are also approaching the media to help propagate our message,” say the duo.