PARIKRAMA

Process Report

Madhu Bhatia Neelakshi Yadav Shubhra Sharma Simran Arora

MIND MAP
 RESEARCH

Started the research from the four main religions:


Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism and Christianity.
We narrowed down our research on just 

Cast, Customs & Traditions.
We further researched on the deities of Hindu Mythology.
We went on few websites and started reading about Vedic times and the
Puranas.
Then we researched on Women’s Freedom & Sexuality.
From there we got our final concept of “Parikrama” that’s ‘FORWARD-
THINKING’ which today is actually a very backward thought that existed
centuries ago without any boundations.
 AIM

To refine people’s thinking about the condemned notions of women’s

freedom and sexuality and to promote healthy thinking regarding the same
through references from ancient India.
 BACKGROUND

It is a well observed fact that we believe that our parents and their parents belonged
to a ‘purana zamana’ where orthodox and very narrow-minded thinking prevailed.
Today, individuals all over the country are fighting for something or the other- rights
over sexuality, rights over freedom and rights to security and choice. It has become a
very common sight to witness girls revolting in their families and in their societies
over their freedom against the restrictions put on them- restrictions on clothing, on
social outlook, freedom to go out, freedom to earn and spend as they please,
freedom to work, etc. The LGBT community is constantly rebelling in several
countries for their rights.

On the other hand, we often witness horrendous crimes like rape, human trafficking,
honour killings and what all. It has been realised by the more forward-minded masses
that these are all a consequence of wrong mentalities and unenlightened minds.
We often believe that in ancient India, women were the oppressed gender
and had no rights. However, this is opposite to reality. Several references to
our scriptures such as the Mahabharata, the Manusmriti and the Puranas can
prove otherwise. It was a time where maximum tolerance prevailed and
liberalism was at its peak. What we call ‘FORWARD-THINKING’ today is
actually a very backward thought. It existed centuries ago without any
boundations.

It is natural that when something is curtained, it gains attention and more

often than not, leads to negative perceptions. Notions that were once
considered the purest have been covered up with lies and restrictions and
have created wrong beliefs over the years.
 CONCEPT

What if we tell you that at the time of our ancestors, contrary to modern
beliefs, these crimes and revolts were quite less in number as compared to
present times? What if we tell you that in ancient times, women and gays
never had to fight for their freedom because it was considered as basic as
breathing air? What if we tell you that in ancient India, a girl’s virginity was
never questioned and sex was openly talked about?

This documentary attempts to delve into the past to understand where and
how we underwent a negative hourglass effect. It also attempts to renew the
beliefs the common man has about the roots of our culture, hopefully
creating a positive feedback about it. At last, the documentary hopes to create
a positive thought in the minds of its audiences regarding women’s rights to
freedom and sexuality.
 TOPICS TO BE HIGHLIGHTED
We will talk about the facts and prove that Ancient India (2000 BC~600BC) was way more broad-
minded that present times. The following topics will be talked about:

• Freedom to choose one’s life-partner for both women and men.

• Women’s education never being hindered.
• Forced sex and intimacy not being allowed- married or un-married.
• Dating before marriage being normal.
• No issues over a woman’s virginity- the intactness of the hymen never being questionable.
• Sex being a very openly talked-about subject.
• Women’s rights to remarriage if the husband was dead/banished/impotent.
• Equal rights for women.
• ‘Sex Working’ being a respectable occupation.
 QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Dating before marriage being normal.

• Have you ever dated before marriage?
• If yes, can you describe the confrontation? How did it go?
• Does your family accept dating before marriage?
2. No issues over a woman’s virginity- the intactness of the hymen never
being questionable.
• Has anyone ever asked personal questions such as questioning your
virginity? Would you like to share any experience?
• What notions do your family hold about sex and virginity?
• How do you feel about losing virginity before marriage?
3. Sex being a very openly talked-about subject.
• How did you first find out what sex is?
• Do you feel hesitant to talk about sex openly?
• Have you ever talked about sex openly to your kids?
• Do you feel awkward when you see condom ads on television?
• Have you ever bought condoms from a medical store? (If yes,
describe experience.)
• How would you feel on reading these magazines in public
such as in metros?
• Did you receive sex education in school or within your
family?
4. Women’s rights to remarriage if the husband was dead/banished/impotent.

• Freedom to women’s sexuality.

5. Equal rights for women.

• Do you think that you are entitled to equal rights over property?

• Was anything ever given more importance than education in your growing
years?

• Was your current profession your original career choice?

• Have you ever faced opposition/discrimination in your family regarding

your studies?
6. ’Sex Working’ being a respectable occupation.

• Who are prostitutes?

• What are the first three words that come to your mind when you hear
the word ‘prostitute’?

• Are you comfortable with being friends with a prostitute?

• Why do you think they have chosen this profession?

MOOD BOARD
 RECCE

• We had started our research with our first speaker, Dr Shubhra Sharma who has
done Phd in Ancient Indian Studies. To meet her we had gone to Greater Noida
where she lives.

• To record some bytes of people we had gone to Hanuman Mandir, Bangla Sahib,
Chandni Chowk, Dilli Haat, Indian Habitat Centre, Lodhi Garden and Indirapuram.

• We went to South Delhi to meet a Psychologist and Academician, Mrs Ishnita

Nayantara Keskar who guided us to our second speaker.

• To interview our second speaker, Mrs Aparna Samuel Balasundaram who is a USA
Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist, we will be going to Gurgaon at her office.

• We had also gone to Chandni Chowk to purchase camera and sound equipments.
 BUDGET

• Conveyance Expenses: 5000 INR

• Camera & Sound Equipments: 4000 INR

 SHOW FLOW

• Documentary starts with Filler shots of people’s gestures and Indian streets.

• Gayatri mantra is played throughout the documentary to get the feel of religious and cold shivers
regarding the topics talked about in the video.

• Bytes of women hiding her bra and cleavage.

• Bytes of Dr. Shubhra Sharma dictating the historical experiences on women’s freedom and sexuality.

• Next comes the typewriter sound with questions asked from the public on the topic.

• Soon after the question we share the answers given by the women covered with metaphorical shots
related to their answers.

• Psychotherapist gives the viewer a clear vision on the present generation thoughts which revolves
around women.

• Ending with a question mark, mic drop and white noise.

REFERENCE VIDEO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZMj8jLnsCk
FILLER SHOTS

Women’s natural behaviour

Women hiding her bra strap

Women settling her shirt

Women pulling her skirt down

City life

Covering religious places & traditions

Metaphorical Shots like flowers depicting fertility

 STORY BOARD
Act 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZMj8jLnsCk

In the background
Act2

Act3

Act 4
REFLECTION

To begin with, it took the group an entire month to draft the final script of the
documentary due to unavailability of a speaker. Letters were sent to may speakers
(including a Delhi University professor and writer, philosopher Devadutta
Pattanaik). After immense efforts to get any speaker for our documentary, one of
our faculty members Mrs. Aparna Mudi helped the group out by arranging for the
final speaker- Dr. Shubhra Sharma (PHD in Ancient Indian Women Studies).
For the second speaker, a known psychologist was selected- Ishnita Nayantara
Keskar. A few weeks later, the speaker refused to shoot due to personal reasons
and guided the group to a third, and the final speaker- Mrs. Aparna Samuel
Balasundaram, another established psychologist.
The shooting of the documentary was rather haywire. The dates changed thrice due
to unavailability of a free slot and due to the huge number of selected locations. The
college audio accessories were booked for a long time and the group had to purchase
their own microphones from Chandini Chowk. On the second day of shooting, Dilli
Haat was found to be closed and the crown was irresponsive at the Indian Habitat
Centre. These issues delayed the shoot extremely. Another prominent issue faced by
the group was the severe eve-teasing by an entire batch of school boys from a
government school who created a major, unfortunate scene for the all-girls group.
Despite all these issues faced, the group was able to complete the shoots on time. The
rickshaw walas at Chandini Chowk were peculiarly helpful as they allowed the group
to place a camera at the top of their own rickshaw to shoot the landscape.

To sum it up, shooting for the documentary was a great experience. It provided the
group the lovely opportunity to travel across the Delhi NCR (and beyond- Gurgaon
and Greater Noida). The group gained tremendous insights into the lives of an Indian
woman and above all, got much to learn about their own culture and traditions.
UG FASHION MEDIA COMMUNICATION
LEVEL 2
MADHU BHATIA NEELAKSHI YADAV SHUBHRA SHARMA SIMRAN ARORA