Breast cancer survivor tells her story
Being able to endure and survive a dreaded disease like cancer is an achievement in itself and to have the courage to blind yourself from the agony and create a movie woven with some moments of the struggle is laudable.
Namrata Singh Gujral, an Indo-American film-maker and a breast cancer survivor herself, did exactly that when she decided to make the documentary, 1 a Minute, on breast cancer awareness and chose to do it as a social responsibility.
In Hyderabad for a screening of her documentary, which is the largest theatrical release for a film based on cancer, she speaks of why she chose this concept.
"Cancer is taken as a very negative concept in film-making, but I wanted to portray it positively and bring out the brighter side of its survival. If we have survived a disease of a magnitude like cancer, then it's our social responsibility to give it back to society in the form of awareness."
Having directed, produced and acted in the movie as the protagonist, Namrata shares that the reason for doing so was to bring realism to the movie."I have been a film producer before, but I decided to act and direct this movie as I couldn't find a cancer survivor to act and having survived it myself, I thought it would be apt to act in the movie so that there can be more realism in it. It was definitely tough to juggle everything together, but I was passionate about it," she says.
Explaining what the documentary is about, she says, "It is a 90-minute film, that is a hybrid between a narrative and a documentary. It is about a woman's journey through cancer, how she faces the sudden shock of being diagnosed with the disease while living a happy-go-lucky life which is played by me. I personally know many celebrities who have survived this dreaded disease like Barabara Mori, Lisa Ray, actress Mumtaz and 15 of them have spoken about their experiences in the film. The film is titled so because every minute a woman dies of cancer in the world and I wanted to highlight that."
Talking of the response the movie received in the city, she says enthusiastically, "It was an overwhelming response. There were many cancer survivors present to watch the film and they were touched. The film moved people to tears and they congratulated me for making this film and creating awareness."
She points out that the awareness of the disease is more in the West when compared to Asia and which is what compelled her to release it in India.
"The West is more aware about the disease and they have done a lot to create awareness about it. But as the awareness is low in Asia, I decided to screen the film here especially." she informs.
The movie will hit the screens on October 29 in India.
Namrata Singh Gujral, an Indo-American film-maker and a breast cancer survivor herself, did exactly that when she decided to make the documentary, 1 a Minute, on breast cancer awareness and chose to do it as a social responsibility.
In Hyderabad for a screening of her documentary, which is the largest theatrical release for a film based on cancer, she speaks of why she chose this concept.
"Cancer is taken as a very negative concept in film-making, but I wanted to portray it positively and bring out the brighter side of its survival. If we have survived a disease of a magnitude like cancer, then it's our social responsibility to give it back to society in the form of awareness."
Having directed, produced and acted in the movie as the protagonist, Namrata shares that the reason for doing so was to bring realism to the movie."I have been a film producer before, but I decided to act and direct this movie as I couldn't find a cancer survivor to act and having survived it myself, I thought it would be apt to act in the movie so that there can be more realism in it. It was definitely tough to juggle everything together, but I was passionate about it," she says.
Explaining what the documentary is about, she says, "It is a 90-minute film, that is a hybrid between a narrative and a documentary. It is about a woman's journey through cancer, how she faces the sudden shock of being diagnosed with the disease while living a happy-go-lucky life which is played by me. I personally know many celebrities who have survived this dreaded disease like Barabara Mori, Lisa Ray, actress Mumtaz and 15 of them have spoken about their experiences in the film. The film is titled so because every minute a woman dies of cancer in the world and I wanted to highlight that."
Talking of the response the movie received in the city, she says enthusiastically, "It was an overwhelming response. There were many cancer survivors present to watch the film and they were touched. The film moved people to tears and they congratulated me for making this film and creating awareness."
She points out that the awareness of the disease is more in the West when compared to Asia and which is what compelled her to release it in India.
"The West is more aware about the disease and they have done a lot to create awareness about it. But as the awareness is low in Asia, I decided to screen the film here especially." she informs.
The movie will hit the screens on October 29 in India.
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