International Women’s Day 2024: This new terrace film club in Bandra will show a documentary about India's marginalised communities

Do you feel the rage take over your body when you step out of the cinema hall brimming with words of criticism and analysis only to be interrupted and told ldquoItrsquos just a movie yardquo As much as this writer detests these words we cannot deny that for some people movies are a means of basic entertainment But for those of us who mean business every time we watch a movie Chat Chitra Talkies Bandrarsquos new terrace film club is here to lend an earThe white wall on the terrace will serve as a screenFounded by film editor Shubhika Sharma and creative producer Harshita Sabnis the film club will host its first screening this Friday for International Womenrsquos Day ldquoShubhika and I are both filmmakers We first met on a project for a Netflix documentary in 2019 We have been friends ever since and often watch movies together She has this beautiful terrace attached to her flat in Bandra which serves as a venue for the screeningsrdquo Sabnis shares The duo loves discussing movies and often calls over their friends from the industry to join them ldquoThe terrace keeps undergoing change as per occasionThe film club is designed to make the community feel comfortable and at home PicsShadab KhanSometimes it is ready to host a friendrsquos party other times it hosts movie football and cricket screeningsrdquo Sharma laughs adding that now the duo wants to make it a dedicated space for cinephiles to watch films and have discussions The focus will be to bring movies created by women to the fore ldquoWe aim to screen documentaries short fiction and nonfiction films by independent filmmakers as well as Indian and Western classicsrdquo the 28yearold filmmakers share Some movies lined up going forward include Against the Tide by Sarvnik Kaur Parched by Leena Yadav Hello Guyzzz by Samiksha Mathur Begamon ka Bhopal by Rachita Gorowala and Goodbye Hello by Omkar PathakJyoti NishaThe idea they explain is to screen movies that are not easily available online and stir conversations ldquoWe intend screening films with due permissions from directors or producers We want to make such movies accessible to the general public and not just the people from the industry The intention of the initiative at this point is to build a community and not go into making profitsrdquo the duo reveals adding that the name Chat Chitra Talkies originates from the idea of turning the terrace house into a ldquotalkierdquo where people come together to watch films ldquoWe attempt to bring an intimate atmosphere in our setup where one could just feel at home and yet enjoy the experience of watching a film with a communityrdquoA still from Dr BR Ambedkar Now amp ThenThe first documentary they will showcase on Friday is Dr BR Ambedkar Now amp Then by citybased writer filmmaker and theorist Jyoti Nisha ldquoThe featurelength documentary questions privilege and representation of caste gender and media through a Bahujan Feminist Lens Womenrsquos day felt like the perfect opportunity to screen itrdquo Sabnis sharesHarshita Sabnis and Shubhika SharmaTo this end Nisha who will be present for a postmovie discussion adds ldquoWe all talk about patriarchy mdash from the rich to the marginalised women and men But we forget to question where its roots are This movie offers a spectatorship into how the marginalised communities and women are treated in the modern society from the philosophy of arguments presented by Dr BR Ambedkar It offers an assertive gaze which is amiss in popular culture compares the past and the present and documents the political situation in the country right from 2014rdquoOn March 8 730 pm onwardsAt Chat Chitra Talkies Pali Hill Bandra West get complete address after registrationLog on to chatchitratalkies registration link in bioCost Rs 350