Title of the film Development Flows from the Barrel of the Gun
Originally Titled Vikas Bandook ke Nal se
Directed by Biju Toppo, Meghnath
Language Hindi, Odia (English subtitles)
Year 2003
Duration 55 mins
PRINCIPAL CREW
PRODUCTION AKHRA
WRITING Meghnath
CINEMATOGRAPHY Biju Toppo
EDITING V. G. Raja Ashok
About the Film
The film documents the illegal displacement of entire villages by the state and highlights the miscarriages of justice brought about by the skewed development policies in India upon the adivasi population. Cases have been covered from all over the country - Utkal Alumina in Kashipur, Orissa; Koel Karo dam in Jharkhand; World Bank-funded forestry project in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh; steel plant in Nagarnar, Chhattisgarh and the port in Umbergaon, Gujarat.
About the Director
Meghnath and Biju Toppo, the founders of Akhra, are a filmmaker duo who have championed the voices of marginalized communities in Jharkhand, India. Through impactful films like ‘Naachi Se Baanchi,’ ‘Iron is Hot,’ ‘The Hunt,’ ‘Gadi Lohardaga Mail,’ Kora Rajee," and "Development from the Barrel of a Gun," they tackle critical issues like indigenous survival, land rights, and environmental exploitation. Their work has earned multiple awards over the years and sparked social change.
