At a time when the incidence of accidents due to illegal mining has jolted the society, a coal town born young director settled in Mumbai, has produced an hour long movie focusing on the pitiable condition of coal pickers facing hunger, subsidence threat, pollution and health hazard.
Meet Raj Kumar Das (34), who scripted the movie, The Future is Dark, produced under the banner of Saluja Gold Film and entertainment, the premier of which is likely to be held next month in Dhanbad.
Talking to The Telegraph Online on Tuesday, Das said, “The film shot in the last six months at various collieries of Ramgarh, Bhurkunda and Jharia is based on the life and struggle for existence of a coal picker and his family including his wife and 10 year old daughter.”
“Born and brought at Dhanbad I have minutely observed the life of hardship and uncertainty of residents of colliery areas, particularly those working in the unorganised sector like coal loading in trucks and others or even engaged in coal picking,” said Das adding that he has portrayed difficulties like debt trap, breathing related diseases and violence among different groups of coal loaders for work allotment at the coal loading sites.
Das who had earlier acted, directed and produced around a dozen of short films further revealed that the lead cast comprises Priyanka Mishra, a Jamshedpur based actress and Bhgalpur based you tuber Adarsh Anand. The role of the child has been essayed by Sparsh Suman (10).
“Though, this a low budget film primarily meant for film festivals, we have not compromised on the quality. Music has been compsoed by Maris Vijay while Savaniee Ravindrra has given the lyrics,” divulged Das who shot the movie with jujst 22 crew members.
“A lot of national and international documentaries as well as movies have been made on coal fire of Jharia earlier but we laid focus on human life and struggle of families living in fire areas amid constant threat of subsidence and death,” said Das and added that they have also made preparation for the longer version of movie after its participation in various national and international film festivals.