Taaza Khabar: Printing Khabar Lahariya
Director: Bishakha Datta; Cinematographer: Ranu Ghosh
Duration: 00:25:18; Aspect Ratio: 1.333:1; Hue: 166.696; Saturation: 0.066; Lightness: 0.360; Volume: 0.132; Cuts per Minute: 6.995; Words per Minute: 1.107
Summary: Part of the footage of the film Taaza Khabar directed by Bishakha Datta and produced by Nirantar. The film is about the journey of a team of all women journalists of Khabar Lahariya (a grassroots newspaper published by the women themselves) through several obstacles. The determined efforts are to ensure the 62nd issue of Khabar Lahariya reaches its readers on time. The women are from Chitrakoot district in U.P. who report stories that find no space in mainstream media. It also portrays how these women have created their own space and established their identity in a context where patriarchy and caste-based discriminations are dominant. In this event, Meera, the editor of Khabar Lahariya and her team try to print the copy of the newspaper that needs to be sent to the printing press early next morning. The video captures the unexpected turn of events when the printer does not work and the anxieties and tension that occur as a result.
The production of Khabar Lahariya is in progress. Meera, the editor of Khabar Lahariya, is sitting in the room with Vishnu, who is helping with the typing and printing of the paper. Bishakha asks Meera how long she will be at the office, and she says it will take all night, as the newspaper has to go for printing to the printing press at Allahabad the next morning. She predicts that the work will be completed by eight am the next day. She is fully confident about it and says it with utmost sureity.
Karwi, Chitrakoot
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Bishakha asks Meera about the difficulties that she faces during production. Meera tells her that it's most difficult when they find mistakes in the stories they have written and find themselves needing to correct the language or the spelling during proofreading. Many times during feedback sessions too, the journalists write their drafts a second time.
Kavita writes on a big sheet of paper in the background, while Meera supervises the typing and has a look at the final text and layout of the newspaper on the computer screen. They have a run through of all the pages, and Meera finds a mistake which she corrects. The print command is given after a final check of the document. But...
The printer has a problem and is not printing properly. Meera and Vishnu try to check what's wrong with the printer. Meera is slowly getting anxious. After several attempts at reviving the printer, it still does not work. Shalini, from Nirantar, suggests that they switch off the system and the printer and try once again. Krishna, who needs to take the copy to Allahabad the next morning is in the room. She looks worried that the printer is not working. Shalini asks her about how she plans to travel to Allahabad and Krishna tells her that she prefers taking the bus as she will reach sooner and the negatives can be done faster.
problem, wrong, anxious, attempt, revive, switch off, try, travel, bus, train, negatives, fast
Vishnu tries to reconnect the wires and restarts the printer and the computer. Mira is quietly sitting and looks lost. Shalini explains that the wires of the printer seem to have been cut by rats, and that all the work is done and the only thing left is taking out the printout. She reasons that if the printer does not work, then they will have to copy the material into a cd. Just as she is saying this, Meera suddenly gets up and happily says "it's come. it's come!" waving her hands on both sides. Shalini looks up and smiles at her excitement. Everyone smiles and looks relieved, as the printer is finally working.
reconnect, wire, quiet, rats, cd, smile, excited, relief
An hour later, the printer prints the first page of Khabar Lahariya and while it is on it's way out, Meera checks the pages and ensures that it's alright. The prints comes out slowly. Meera takes out each page as soon as it's out, patiently waiting for the next one. She counts the final number of pages once it's all out, and happily announces to Krishna that the work is done and she can go to Allahabad. Krishna smiles in response.
Congratulations
Meera: You took the photos, Krishna?
Krishna: Yes I kept them.
Krishna: You've written behind the photos where they have to go?
Meera: Yes, I've written headings.
The language is Bundeli.
Meera gives a final check of all the pages and makes sure that they are all in the right order, while Krishna waits to get the copy. Meera has a wide smile on her face and is evidently relieved after the brief episode of the printer. She shuts down everything and covers the computer with a cloth. Krishna and Meera leave the room.
order, cloth. shut, leave
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