Katiyabaaz is a documentary film about the electrical supply shortage in an industrial suburb of Kanpur, India. The story unfurls along miles of tangled copper wires which mirror the diabolical complexity which unfolds in several towns and cities across the country. A picture emerges of a modern dystopia encompassing urban d...more
Katiyabaaz is a documentary film about the electrical supply shortage in an industrial suburb of Kanpur, India. The story unfurls along miles of tangled copper wires which mirror the diabolical complexity which unfolds in several towns and cities across the country. A picture emerges of a modern dystopia encompassing urban decay and desperation due to the lack of electricity. Underlying the localized crisis in Kanpur is the glaring energy poverty in India, where a third of the population is often without power and the rest grapple with frequent power-cuts that dictate their own terms. Powerless points to the universal need for dependable electrical power while exploring this theme in one of the world’s most ascendant economies less
Verdict
“Katiyaabaz is a spectacularly shot documentary that captures the essence of crippling small town problems in our country. This gripping, witty and powerful film will change your perspective on power cuts. Watch it. ”
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Watching KATIYABAAZ was my Mughal e Azam moment , you step into the theatre expecting to support Shehzada Saleem and leave supporting a Team Akbar Tshirt. I was sure this was a movie where I would be rooting for the little man with nerves of steel--Loha Singh, the dabang braveheart looping electric wires ala a desi robinhood . Steal electricity from the rich to feed the needs of the growing poor. However, as the documentary progressed I grew more and more impressed of the " karak" MD of Kanpur's KESCO, Ritu Maheshwari who tries to make sense of the immense power crisis that has defeated the imagination and will of her predecessors. Never has a David and Goliath made you feel some compassion for the Goliath too. And Kanpur, well any modern day city in South Asia today, what a tangled web of deceit ( and illegal electricity wires) you weave. Watch Katiyabaaz, kiya zor ka bijli ka jhatka dheere se lage. It packs more suspense than any modern day Hindi film and has a "real life " ending jaisa ke picturo mai nahi hota sadly .
