Daljit Ami is a Punjabi documentary filmmaker and journalist, known for his activism through social action documentaries on topics such as agricultural labour, mass movements, human rights, environmentalism, Sufi tradition and Punjabi scholars.[1] Being dissatisfied with how Punjab was being depicted in films, he strives to portray the reality of Punjabi culture from "an insider's point of view."[2]
The documentary films he has made include Born in Debt, Zulm Aur Aman, Karsewa: a different story, Anhad Baja Bajey, Not Every Time, and Seva,[3] and he co-wrote the 2014 Punjabi film Sarsa.[4] He has written two articles for the Outlook magazine,[5][6] and his latest project is a film based on the 1915 Singapore Mutiny.[7][8]
Biography
He has a master's degree in Ancient Indian History, Archaeology and Culture, and a Masters in Mass Communications. He has worked on a number of independent films and has created documentaries dealing with social issues and politics of northern India. In the past, he has worked as an assistant editor for the newspaper Punjabi Tribune,[3] and has worked as editorial consultant for Day & Night News.[9] and Global Punjab TV, a Punjabi channel broadcast in the US and Canada. He also volunteers for Panjab Digital Library as Director, Communications.[10] Speaking about non-fiction films, Daljit Ami says: Template:Blockquote In speaking toward film length, he says: Template:Blockquote
Work
Daljit Ami's Punjabi adaption of the book Roll of Honour which was authored in English by Amandeep Sandhu, and is based on the events that happened post 1984 in Punjab, as "Gwah De Fanah Hon To Pehlan", was released in November 2014.
Partial filmography
- Born in Debt (2000)
- Sudarshan: An Institution Of Simplicity (2002)[11]
- Zulm Aur Aman (2003)[12]
- Karsewa: a different storyTemplate:When
- Anhad Baja BajeyTemplate:When
- Unearthing Unfamiliar (2009)[11]
- Not Every Time (2009)[13][14]
- Seva (2013)[15][16][17]
- Singapore Mutiny of 1915 (2014)[7][8]
Recognition
Times of India noted how the film Zulm Aur Aman, with its song "Zulm Rahe Aur Aman Bhi Ho" by Pakistani singer Naseebo, made comparisons between Adolf Hitler, George Bush and Tony Blair, and illustrated how war-making can be a profitable enterprise for those that conduct it.[12]
Tribune India referred to Unearthing Unfamiliar, a film on Sikh scholar Professor Pritam Singh and Sudarshan: An Institution Of Simplicity, a film about a human rights activist, as path-breaking documentaries.[11]
OhMyNews praised Not Every Time, writing it "superbly portrays the ongoing struggle of thousands of rural people who leave their green fields and countryside homes to march in the streets of different towns and cities of Punjab."[14]
In an interview with " Sikh Chic" Daljit has stated his reason for translating the novel Roll Of Honour : "Punjabi has its own texture and diversity of dialects. I thought that it would give me a chance to do something more Template:Sic just translation. This invitation was too big to resist. I thought that it would be a liberating experience, which it turned out to be."[18]
Hindustan Times spoke toward Seva and its being centred on history and Punjabi heritage conservationist Namita Jaspal as its narrative makes comparisons between the present and the past, and instructs that the present is built upon the past.[15] The Hindu wrote "It took Daljit Ami, an independent film maker from Punjab to discover that as a result of varied interpretations of 'sewa' in the context of Sikhism, not just the preservers but destroyers of precious heritage in Punjab draw upon 'sewa' to justify their deeds."[16] Tribune India wrote the film "not only underlines the significance of preserving heritage, but also salutes the contribution of those devoted to the onerous task of conserving."[17]
Times of India spoke toward Daljit Ami's current project on the 1915 Singapore Mutiny and his research involving his visiting the historic locations involved.[7]
In preserving Punjab's history and culture, Zulm Aur Aman has been archived in the Jalandhar's Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall.[19]
References
- ↑ A brush with Ami(30 June 2013).
- ↑ I Want to Portray the Real Punjab(24 April 2009).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Director/Producer: Daljit Ami. Sikh International Film Festival(2009).
- ↑ National Award for Punjabi film "Nabar"(19 March 2013).
- ↑ Scoot! Sherry Paaji Is in Da House(17 March 2014).
- ↑ What The Dickens(5 May 2014).
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Haryana boys led first mutiny of World War I(July 5, 2014).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Documentary on gender violence screened(19 May 2013).
- ↑ http://www.dayandnightnews.com/ Template:Webarchive Day & Night News
- ↑ Digitising memories(2 August 2014).
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Workshop dwells on film-making nuances(23 December 2012).
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Video brings out profit factor in wars(27 April 2003).
- ↑ On a Path Less Troden: Daljit Ami(29 April 2013).
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 'Not Every Time...' Scores(11 August 2006). Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Tale of untiring 'seva'(2 July 2013). Retrieved 24 August 2014.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Endangered texts(27 May 2013).
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 On a path less trodden(26 April 2013).
- ↑ Roll of Honour: An Interview With Author Amandeep Singh Sandhu, and Punjabi Translator Daljit Ami(15 December 2014).
- ↑ Keeping tales of revolutionaries alive(20 January 2011).