When documentary film-maker P.Y. Anilkumar asked veteran journalist B.R.P. Bhaskar’s permission to make a documentary on him, he initially refused to give it. Later, when the film-maker continued to persist, he put forward a condition – the film should not in any way glorify him.
The documentary ‘Byline by BRP’ traces a brief history of the changes in the field of journalism over the six decades that he has been active in it. It stays clear of giving too many details of the man, and tries instead to use him as a peg to document the larger picture.
It was screened at the Nila cinema here on Tuesday.
“BRP is one of the few who has been effective across all modes of journalism – print, television, and online. He managed to switch easily with the changing times. We started the shooting when he came for the Arippa land struggle last year, and it was a perfect place to start as it embodies his activism,” says Mr. Anil Kumar.
Mr. Anil Kumar spent close to 10 months in researching and shooting the documentary, which was scripted by Venu Muttacaud.
