Badlaav Republic
Women leaders inculcate the pursuit of knowledge and growth to kids and men in a local community in India. - Badlaav (Change) Republic
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Manahar KumarDirector
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Manahar KumarProducer
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Project Type:Documentary, Experimental, Short, Student
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Runtime:15 minutes 41 seconds
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Production Budget:1,000 USD
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Country of Origin:United States
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Country of Filming:India
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Language:Hindi
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:2.35:1
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:Yes - Savannah College of Art & Design
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Georgia Documentary Film FestivalAtlanta
United States
Best Documentary Film -
Oregon Documentary Film Festival
United States
Best International Film -
Miami Independent Film Festival
United States
Official Selection
Born and brought up around professional English Theatre in Chandigarh, North India, and pursuing his undergraduate degree in Manipal, South India, Manahar’s world-view expanded, after observing many kinds of India in one India.
In 2019, Manahar created a successful crowdfunding campaign for his thesis film – Stardust. He was 1 of 10 finalists selected for the Film Impact Georgia Grant and Stardust most recently won the “Audience Award for Best Short Film” at the Georgia Film Festival.
His short documentary - kya dekh raha hai? (What are you looking at?) fetched him a Student EMMY ® and traveled 8 International film festivals. The film won the “Best Micro Short Film” award at the Georgia Documentary Film Festival.
His latest short documentary - Badlaav (Change) Republic, currently in the film festival circuit won the “Best International Film” award at the Oregon Documentary Film Festival and “Best Documentary Award” at the Georgia Documentary Film Festival.
As a graduate student at the Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD), Atlanta, Manahar received scholarships and won the “Most likely to be a renowned actor” Ambassador’s Choice Award. Manahar has collaborated and worked with companies like Georgia World Congress Center and Deloitte. Prior to his studies, Manahar collaborated on a music video with the non-profit, Men Against Rape and Discrimination (MARD) in India.
What draws Manahar to filmmaking and acting is the desire to move and entertain audiences. It is also the opportunity to shine a light of awareness, empathy, compassion, and, above all, justice, on the many social and ideological evils that lurk hidden in the shadows of the public discourse around him, be it gendered violence, a benevolent patriarchy, or exploitation by class and caste.
The aim of "Badlaav Republic" is to tackle patriarchy in society.
Badlaav (meaning change) Republic is a story based in a small town, Khuda Lahora in Chandigarh, India.
The film revolves around Manju, a woman who successfully broke the shackles of patriarchy to do what she truly loves. This, juxtaposed with the utopic upbringing of the children at the afternoon school library, celebrating India's Republic Day showcases the curious nature of children and the eternal power of women evolving the foundation that the community was built on.
The above initiative is run by the NGO - Chhoti si Asha (A Small Hope).