Had - Anhad (The Kabir Project)

Had Anhad: Journeys With Ram & Kabir

Introduction Had Anhad – Journeys with Ram and Kabir, a film by Shabnam Virmani is an attempt at
exploring the living traditions of Kabir while juxtaposing them with the reality of religious divisiveness
that exists in our society today.

Kabir was a 15th century mystic poet of north India who defied the boundaries between Hindu and
Muslim. He had a Muslim name and upbringing, but his poetry repeatedly invokes the widely revered
Hindu name for God—Ram. Who is Kabir’s Ram? This film journeys through song and poem into the
politics of religion, and finds a myriad answers on both sides of the hostile border between India and
Pakistan. Through Kabir author tries to find all these answers related to kabir and Ram. She meets
different people in her journey who are either local singers coming from distinctive regional and religious
background recite Kabir in their own style. Finally she goes to Pakistan where she feels most closest to
Kabir and his philosophy.

About Cast
Director: Shabnam Virmani
Producer: Srishti
Natural performances by Praha Tip Aniya, the compellingfolk singer from Ujjain, Moktar Ali, the mires
folksingerand Fariduddin, a qawali singer from Karachi.
About Shabnam Virmani

Shabnam VirmaniShabnam Virmani is a filmmaker and artist in residence at the Srishti School of Art,
Design and Technology in Bangalore, India. 7 years ago she started travelling with folk singers in Malwa,
Rajasthan and Pakistan in a quest for the spiritual and socio-political resonances of the 15th century
mystic poet Kabir in our contemporary worlds. Among the tangible outcomes of these journeys were a
series of 4 musical documentary films, several music CDs and books of the poetry in translation Inspired
by the inclusive spirit of folk music, she has begun to play the tambura and sing folk songs of Kabir
herself.
Summary
The movie was- Had Anhad , made by Shabnam Virmani under a kabir Project. It begins with a question -
"Where I will find Ram?" And the first landscape is that of Ayodhya - Ram janm bhumi... but does she
find Ram there? Some shopkeepers are interviewed by her and it is very realistic to see that what
people actually think about Babri Masjid Case. It is a war between Ego and Belief.
Then in the next part of the movie film journeys through song and poem into the politics of religion, and
finds a myriad answers on both sides of the hostile border between India and Pakistan. In this journey
the director scales different stories, narrations, and comes across many faces of Kabir. Stories and people
trying to bound that free spirit in the name of religion, sect, caste, even explaining his existence as
human or divine. On this process she sets out on a journey to find Kabir- the Kabir inside her, the Kabir
sitting inside every heart waiting to be reckoned.
Dissussion In group
Educational implication
My experience
I watch this documentary film- Had Anhad becuse it is part of my curriculumn. this movie help me to
understand that we should see others by their hert not by their religion. this movie spred a light on who
is Lord Ram and who is kabir. their are many controvercies about the religion of Kabir but from this
movie we could understaan that we should stop arguing about where he was born, which language he
wrote in. but we should understand the beauty of kabir's thoughts. His thoughts spread like a running
water and that is the beauty of Kabir. It is not the brand Kabir that people identify with, it is the feeling
about what he represents. For Kabir, God was “neither in Kaaba nor in Kailash,” but within us . Kabir’s
songs and poetry give hope and talk about the fundamental questions of the human condition. It help
me to know that we dont have to find god in mosque, church and temple. But we could find god
anywhere ansd in everything. The kabir is inside us and we need to just feel it by observing our inner
spirit.
Conclusion This movie potrate the image of Kabir's Ram which the filmseeks an answer to. For many
of us who thaught Kabir was equivalent to dohas to be deciphered to pass cbse board examination
shabnam Virmani film on the mystic poet sanit come as a revelation. Journalist turned documentary
filmmaker shabnam went on a six year expectation to fiscoy the essence of Kabir and what he mean
indian today. It resulted in four films that explore the relevance of the 15th century sufi poet. It was a
voyage of it was a voyage of discovery for the award winning filmmaker who was in course of her
research of Kabir. she got to know that god is within us. insteat of finding in temple we should see the
beuty around us, then only we are able to see god everywhere and also in us. Besides the beautifully
rendered music and poetry, the film raises several issues relevant to the modern day discourse on
secularism and peace. It also exposes organised religion’s tendency towards oppression, exclusion and
deliberate marginalisation of communities.
Reflective Journl
According to me this movie takes a closer look at the divides created by regionalism and nationalism.
The spontaneity of this film is heart warming to behold. The movie continues with a host of questions
that stimulate the soul from the very beginning. In this busy life, we have ceased to quench the inner
thirst. This movie oriented me towards what I‘ll call seeking life. Somewhere in between the everyday
may be we lose ourselves more, we keep looking up to materialistic things in search of peace and
satisfaction. But we get none because there isn’t any peace and happiness outside of us.
For me, the movie has been a deeply transforming experience. Each moment of the journey brought me
closer to the fissures in my own mind; the dualistic way of perceiving myself and the world. The
experiences in the movie made me realise that this film is not creation that the director had chosen or
made; rather, this is a gift that audience has received from aspace that we could not claim to completely
comprehend. Over the years, the meaning of Kabir and his teachings have undergone a change for the
common man. I think knowing Kabir more deeply is a process of knowing yourself more deeply. And so,
in that sense, Kabir continues to speak to anyone on a day-to-day, basis (provided one seeks) because
knowing oneself and one’s location in the world is an endless quest.

Had - Anhad (The Kabir Project)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Had - Anhad (The Kabir Project)

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Had - Anhad (The Kabir Project)

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Had Anhad: Journeys With Ram & Kabir

About Shabnam Virmani

You might also like