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“India’s daughter”, the documentary about the 2012 fatal gang rape has been banned in India. The film includes an interview with Mukesh Singh, the driver of the bus the night Jyoti Singh, 23, boarded together with her friend. Officials worry about the comments made by the driver during the interview as the film violates the Indian guidelines set for filmmakers.
Along with Singh’s interview and derogatory comments, the document includes conversations with some of the other convicts who raped and tortured Jyoti Singh on December of 2012. The event took place in a moving bus, driven by Mukesh Singh. The men used iron bars to torture the young woman. She later died in the hospital due to her injuries. This tragic event sparked worldwide demonstrations against the way Indian society treats women, demanding more sever anti-rape laws in India.
Leslee Udwin, the documentary’s film director explains how through her latest work, she got “an insight and an understanding into the way he (Mukesh Singh) views women and that is what is extremely shocking.” She added that what appalled her most was not what he did, but the fact that he did not consider to be at fault.
The worst part is that he is not the only Indian man who thinks this way. This means that the issue lies within the Indian society. In India, many people consider women are the ones at fault if raped. This is also the convicts’ opinion.
The comments made by the bus driver have shocked the media and the story made headlines in various Indian newspapers. Many people expressed their outrage via social media. On Wednesday, March 4, the documentary was discussed in parliament.
The film was supposed to have its debut in India and a few other countries on March 8 which is International Women’s Day. Udwin said she was “deeply saddened” by the fact that India banned the showing of her cinematographic work. In other countries, however, the premiere schedule remained unchanged.
Rajnath Singh, India’s Home Minister accused the filmmakers of “India’s daughter” for going against the “permission conditions” as they did not show the complete unedited recorded material to jail officials.
Udwin stated that she obtained all the necessary approvals and had given jail officials an opportunity to view the unedited footage but they refused to do this. An “easier” version was later approved by officials.
Image Source: The Guardian
