Meet the award-winning filmmakers who gave these women the spotlight they deserved.
If you are walking past the YMCA building on Beach Road in Visakhapatnam and you come across a red food-truck with the name “FISH NUTRI CART” on it, make sure you stop by for a bite or two.
This is not a food recommendation. This is your chance to make a difference in the lives of six fisherwomen who have come up with a unique idea to combat the volatile nature of the fishing industry. Fish Nutri Cart is the first of its kind in Andhra Pradesh, a food truck initiated by fisherwomen from Mangamaripeta, Visakhapatnam. Supported by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Fish Nutri Cart serves shrimp, mackerel, anchovies and other fish-based delicacies.
Today, the world knows their story thanks to Shrinkhla and Shrayansh Pandey –the brother-sister team who made a short documentary about these women and their entrepreneurship. Their eight-minute-long documentary, The Invisible Hands, received global recognition last November when it won third place in the International Association For Women in the Seafood Industry –WSI’s Video Competition-2018. A Non-profit located in Paris, France, WSI brings to forth stories about women in the industry, thereby increasing awareness about their role in this field.
The Invisible Hands is this team’s first independent film. “Shrayansh and I were working in Bangalore after our education. We both enjoy photography, and we also made a few videos for college fests and other events. At some point we realised that it was time for us to focus on our passion completely,” said Shrinkhla talking about how their journey began.
Having spent a large part of their childhood in the city of Visakhapatnam, they chose this familiar place as the focus of their film. Their initial plan was to convey the stories of the fishing communities in Vizag, but when they got to the fish markets for research, they found another story waiting for them.
“We saw a lot of women selling fish, and on talking to them we found that women do most of the back end work,” the filmmakers explained. “Once the fishermen capture the fish, they sell it in the wholesale market. This is where they get their money. The womenfolk try to bring in extra incomes for their families by selling fish at the market and doing other odd jobs.” During their research, they heard about Fish Nutri Cart and the fisherwomen collective who came up with this unique idea to combat their financial difficulties.
Along with a screening in Paris, The Invisible Hands is also going to be screened by the WSI in Bangkok and Spain. Finding the right kind of audience for their documentary, the brother-sister team shared that they were elated to know about the award. “WSI received entries from countries all over the world. It was definitely a proud moment for us, although it took us some time to come to terms with the fact that we had won!,” said Shrayansh.
This team is now motivated to explore and highlight more such unique stories hidden within our country. “If you take the fishing communities itself, their stories will vary based on the region. This is one story in Andhra Pradesh. If you move further south, there will be another story. We are talking about important issues here,” said Shrayansh.
In a day and age of receding attention spans, the team feels that even visual formats need to be carefully curated to hold the viewer’s attention. “People see what these videos are about, and they immediately assume that it will be boring. We have the responsibility of not just presenting the right content, but also making sure they watch it through,”said Shrinkhla.
The team is currently scouting for their next topic, although they do have a few ideas in mind. With an international award in their bags, for these young filmmakers, the journey has just begun.
Watch The Invisible Hands here:
Featured Image Courtesy: Pexels.com
Image Credit: Ishay Botbol