Kashmiri filmmaker Bilal A Jan’s documentary “JL Kaul: A Man of Action” has been selected for the 16th International Documentary Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) 2024, in the short documentary focus section. The festival will be held from July 26 to July 31 in Kerala.
The 30-minute-long documentary focuses on the life of Jawahar Lal Kaul, a well-known social worker and Padma Shri awardee. It explores Kaul’s life struggles as a visually impaired man and delves into his numerous accomplishments. Kaul is the founder of the All India Conference of the Blind, an NGO dedicated to the rehabilitation of the blind. He was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award, in 2014 for his contributions to social work.
In 2018, Jan’s documentary “Daughters of Paradise” was selected for the short documentary competition section of the 11th International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala. His 2008 documentary film, “The Lost Childhood” (in the Kashmiri language), was selected for the Tehran International Short Film Festival and the 10th Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF). In 2010, this film earned him the Nina Sugati SR Award for “Best Director” in conceptual art in cinema.
Bilal A Jan has also collaborated with renowned filmmakers Shyam Benegal and Vidhu Vinod Chopra on their films, including “Mission Kashmir,” “Netaji,” and “The Forgotten Hero.”
