Shingnaba: A Challenge overcome
By: Chitra Ahanthem
HIV/AIDS is a sensitive issue and a film on how people living with HIV/AIDS cope with the stigma and discrimination they face would be quite a challenge to film makers who also have to keep their creative insights in mind. Yet, Shingnaba (Challenge) rises to the occasion and does justice to both the creative aspect as well as the theme of stigma and discrimination.. The film tells the story of a person whose journey has been followed in various media form: films, newspapers and discussions. A person who has bagged the Mr. Manipur title; whose biceps, triceps and abs are giving body builders across the country a run for their tittles. Shingnaba is the theme for Kh.Pradipkumar, who has taken upon himself the “task of fighting the stigma and discrimination that is meted out to PLHAs” according to the protagonist of the film that is directed by Bachaspatimayum Sunzu.
What stands out about Shingnaba of course, is that it stands out despite the fact that Pradipkumar’s story is not new. The treatment and approach to the film and the subject is commendable. The opening scene is a blurred frame: a wide shot with a moving person jogging and then doing warming up exercises. This becomes a prelude to what lies ahead of the film and the protagonist. Flashbacks are used to recreate scenes but there are no forced elements within. The background music weaves seamlessly into the narrative : soft percussion beats (Pung) are used in the beginning of the journey undertaken by Pradipkumar in his quest for defining himself along with his HIV positive status while the tempo builds on to a fast pace built in with beats on the dhol.
Since the film is centered upon a body builder, there are the mandatory shots of exercises and rippling muscles. Yet each exercise scene is portrayed differently despite almost similar exercise routines. Rather, a certain level of awe at being an onlooker to the physical challenge of a HIV positive person on ART, building his life and his muscles comes through in the shots. The film depiction of Pradipkumar’s journey as he traces the moments towards winning the Mr. Manipur title is deeply poignant. Pradip is shown in the empty and darkened GM Hall (where he had been conferred the Mr. Manipur title), slowly walking up and then taking centre stage. He displays the seven mandatory body building poses while his narrative voice tells the viewers about his winning moment.
Shingnaba’s beauty as a film and as a medium for addressing issues of stigma and discrimination faced by PLHAs is that it talks about the narrator’s (Pradipkumar) own self stigma and how he cut off all social ties for about three years after he came to know of his HIV positive status. There is no accusation either about the people who knew about his status who left him gradually, but a quiet acceptance of what life has given to him. It is truly an inspirational film for PLHAs in that it will put into focus the levels of what can be achieved by people inspite of their HIV positive status. But it can be an inspiration for the ‘others’ as well: about the triumph of the human spirit and the validation of fighting out against odds in life.
The film is part of an initiative called Overcoming Stigma and Discrimination (OSD) taken up by the Australian International Health Institute (AIHI) and Project ORCHID which looks at using mass media for putting the spotlight on stigma and discrimination that not only marginalized affected communities but also hamper their access to health care services. Under the said initiative, film makers went through workshops on message development and inputs were taken in from the state networks of positive people to shape a sensitized portrayal of PLHAs.
Shingnaba, an Effective Televison production will undoubtedly contribute towards dispelling myths about HIV positive people. An inspirational must see.
Since the film is centered upon a body builder, there are the mandatory shots of exercises and rippling muscles. Yet each exercise scene is portrayed differently despite almost similar exercise routines. Rather, a certain level of awe at being an onlooker to the physical challenge of a HIV positive person on ART, building his life and his muscles comes through in the shots. The film depiction of Pradipkumar’s journey as he traces the moments towards winning the Mr. Manipur title is deeply poignant. Pradip is shown in the empty and darkened GM Hall (where he had been conferred the Mr. Manipur title), slowly walking up and then taking centre stage. He displays the seven mandatory body building poses while his narrative voice tells the viewers about his winning moment.
Shingnaba’s beauty as a film and as a medium for addressing issues of stigma and discrimination faced by PLHAs is that it talks about the narrator’s (Pradipkumar) own self stigma and how he cut off all social ties for about three years after he came to know of his HIV positive status. There is no accusation either about the people who knew about his status who left him gradually, but a quiet acceptance of what life has given to him. It is truly an inspirational film for PLHAs in that it will put into focus the levels of what can be achieved by people inspite of their HIV positive status. But it can be an inspiration for the ‘others’ as well: about the triumph of the human spirit and the validation of fighting out against odds in life.
The film is part of an initiative called Overcoming Stigma and Discrimination (OSD) taken up by the Australian International Health Institute (AIHI) and Project ORCHID which looks at using mass media for putting the spotlight on stigma and discrimination that not only marginalized affected communities but also hamper their access to health care services. Under the said initiative, film makers went through workshops on message development and inputs were taken in from the state networks of positive people to shape a sensitized portrayal of PLHAs.
Shingnaba, an Effective Televison production will undoubtedly contribute towards dispelling myths about HIV positive people. An inspirational must see.
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