'The Indian Witch Hunt' bags international award
Mumbai, May 4 (PTI): 'The Indian Witch Hunt', a documentary covering the brutal torture meted out to women suspected of being witches in a tribal belt of the country, has bagged the prize for the best film at the 'ShowReal Asia 2 Award' held in Singapore.
The one-hour documentary written and directed by Rakhi Varma follows author and journalist, Shobhana Kapoor, in the tribal belt of Jharkand, where a spate of witch hunts created headlines, a release said here today.
The film explores how women suspected of witchcraft are hunted down. While some are forced to eat human excreta, still others are beaten and stripped naked while some are brutally tortured and killed by mobs.
The film travels through the world of witchcraft and village black magic in an attempt to provide some answers. It meets a sorcerer and three witches who practise this dark art in secrecy. The film also gives viewers a rare look into the forbiden world of death spells and graveyard rituals.
Produced by independent production house, Midtech for the National Geographic Channel, the film has also been nominated for the Magnolia award for the 11TH Shanghai festival and won the Rapa awards.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200505041560.htm