Drowned Out

Drowned Out is a compelling and poignant 2002 documentary film, directed by Franny Armstrong. The documentary, set in Central India, features prominent Indian author and political activist, Arundhati Roy, along with Bulgi Sonkaria and Luhariya Sonkaria. Garnering international attention, the film explores a complex and emotive issue of modern civilization vs tribal rights, development against displacement, focusing primarily on the construction of one of India's largest dams - the Narmada Dam and its impact on local communities.

The film offers a vivid and heartfelt account of the Jalsindhi villagers, represented by the Sonkarias, in Madhya Pradesh. These villagers fight a courageous and prolonged battle against the development project that threatens their ancestral lands and lifestyle. Shot over a period of three years, Drowned Out provides audiences with an intimate and moving portrait of a community bracing against the progress of modernization that is heralded as 'development'.

Arundhati Roy, well-known for her Booker Prize-winning novel "The God of Small Things", and a vocal critic of India's dam-building policies, plays herself in the film. Using both her international platform and powerful prose, Roy advocates for the plight of displaced communities, giving a broader context to the story of the community at Jalsindhi.

The main narrative is centered on the Sonkarias, a tribal family, who refuse to leave their homes, despite knowing their village will be submerged once the dam's construction is complete. The film follows this resilient family, including a young couple with a baby on the way, symbolizing the new life and hope that persist amidst struggle and uncertainty. Bulgi Sonkaria and Luhariya Sonkaria, real residents of the village, give a face to the thousands of people affected by such projects, humanizing a complex conflict that typically gets reduced to mere numbers, making their plight both palpable and heartbreaking.

As the filmmaker follows these characters over the years, the documentary goes beyond just presenting one side of the issue. It also critically examines the greater narrative of relentless progress and economic growth at the cost of human and environmental devastation. The film paints a stark picture of the cost and questionable wisdom of the dam-building fad that swept India in the late 20th century, and grapples with serious questions about the forms and nature of progress and development.

Through a clever interplay of visuals and narratives, the film is shot in a realist style, enriching audience understanding of the grassroots-level realities of those directly affected by such developmental projects. It does a great job of capturing the sacrificial cost paid by these indigenous tribes who get displaced without viable rehabilitation, compensation, or a voice in the process. Throughout the film, the viewer is led on a journey - witnessing the swelling Narmada River, the escalating crisis, the Sonkaria family’s daily struggles, and the ongoing resistance against a monolithic juggernaut of government-sanctioned progress.

The film skillfully navigates complex themes like displacement, survival, rights of indigenous tribes, and the negative aftermath of large-scale development. Drowned Out is a poignant discourse on the dilemmas of development. It addresses the urgent need for governments and societies at large to better balance progress with regard for the environment and human rights, ensuring nobody is drowned out in the name of progress.

A compelling blend of the personal and political, Drowned Out is a must-watch documentary for those invested in human rights, environmental issues, and the struggle of marginalized communities, stirring emotions and provoking thought about the true cost of development.