Spotlight on Razia Mashkoor and the India International Film Festival of Boston (IIFFB)
By Kavita Chhibber
Kavita’s note: The more involved I have become in the various South Asian film festivals, the more I have realized their immense impact and extraordinary contribution in showcasing films, filmmakers, actors and important panel discussions that would not see the light of day otherwise (- that too on a shoestring budget with little support.)
The unsung heroes are the founders who dive off the deep end, often alone, to start these festivals.
If they are lucky there may be some family support and some friends who may come on board and help.
It was about time to talk to the founders, to share the behind-the-scenes efforts in the hope that those who can, will help support these annual events in every which way.
My first introduction to film festivals was in September 2019, when I got a text message from Master Chef Vikas Khanna. His magnificent Film “The Last Color” had been receiving many invitations to be screened at various film festivals and among them was an invitation from the India International Film Festival of Boston (IIFFB).
For over two years, Vikas had been sending me still shots, the rough cut of this beautiful song he had composed and sung in the film from the ghats of Varanasi, and other tidbits. Now that the film was ready, we were trying to find a way to watch the film together.
IIFFB was just a year old then and had been founded by one of my close friends – Razia Mashkoor. I had been unable to attend the inaugural event as I was in India celebrating my dad’s birthday. The invitation to Vikas had been extended through Sunny Thakker and Sunayana Kachroo, both accomplished friends from the world of art, music, and literature.
I candidly told Vikas after talking to both Razia and Sunayana, that this was only the second year of the festival. They were still learning the ropes and had been very candid about the mistakes they had made in the first year. It seemed to be a women run festival, and they were the underdogs at this point. But if there was one thing that was important, it was that I could vouch for Razia’s honesty, purity of heart, integrity, willingness to learn, and her passion for whatever she decides to undertake.
Vikas has been an underdog himself for years and knows what it feels like to be one. He is also a great supporter of women-driven initiatives. He immediately said that he was coming – not just because he wanted to see the film sitting next to me – but because he wanted to support a women run initiative. I remember he had just landed in New York from India and took a connecting flight at his own expense, jet lagging and sleep deprived. But he showed up. Razia and I along with our husbands received Vikas at the airport. Razia who wears her heart on her sleeve as do Vikas and I, got emotional and hugged him. Vikas is a great judge of character, and it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship that has lasted to this day between those two. Like attracts like.
As luck would have it, the film was screened at a venue people can only dream of – the magnificent JFK Library in Boston. Such a special film showcasing the plight of widows in India at such a special venue.
When it won Best Film for Vikas and Best Actor for Neena Gupta, both of them tweeted about it. IIFFB was the talk of the town, and almost instantly gained global recognition. A lot of naysayers who had been critical of the festival were scrambling to call Razia and get back into her good books.
I watched and advised behind the scenes until this year when I agreed to join the advisory board and be their media partner. I noticed Razia always taking a backseat, letting others shine.
In 2019 she made me come up to the stage to receive both the awards for Vikas’s films and say a few words. Razia could have grabbed the limelight with at least one of the awards. She did not.
Most founders of South Asian film festivals are individuals who have a passion for films and a compassion for all those filmmakers who want to present films that are thought-provoking, and showcase subject matter which would never be seen or spoken about otherwise. Often these films are made on a shoestring budget and the filmmakers, actors, writers have achieved that with little financial support. The festivals too are run on a shoestring budget, and by volunteers, all of whom have full time jobs, little kids, and other commitments.
I felt it was time to do a series on the humble faces behind the world of film festivals and because IIFFB is where I began, it is only right to share Razia’s story that I think is screen worthy material itself.
The oldest among seven sisters, Razia comes from a traditional Muslim family, where humanitarian deeds, religious and spiritual practices were an integral part of life. And yet Razia’s father gave his seven daughters a voice when girls were neither seen nor heard.
Razia’s maternal grandmother was acing her way through school, until an infatuated new math teacher proposed to her in eighth grade overcome by her beauty. Her father did not like it and married her off.
Razia’s maternal side were all successful businesspeople and her dad’s side were academicians. Many women in the family were professors and deans of colleges.
Razia’s maternal grandfather had opened his many homes to Sikh and Hindu refugees after the partition of India and Pakistan, letting them stay rent free till they got back on their feet. Many stayed on for years. Her mother and sisters would swap their English breakfast with the Punjabi Parathas, and learnt to speak fluent Punjabi, to make pickle and more from these refugees who had become their extended family.
In all this, Razia’s mother and siblings were introduced to the world of cinema and music.
“It is funny that the biggest cinema theater in Agra had a wall that touched our terrace and a big roshan daan (a combined skylight and ventilating window). All these siblings would watch every movie from their terrace peeking through the roshan daan.”
“When my mom, Naseem Bano got married her father asked her what she would like to take with her and she said, ‘My maid to brush my long hair and my transistor radio,’” says Razia with a laugh.
The world of films was limited to watching them. “I still remember I was 6 or 7 and I saw my first film Haathi mere Saathi with my dad’s younger brother. He loved films and my mom’s brother loved to eat. So between them, I was well fed and became a film goer at an early age.”
Razia’s father, Mashkoor Mohammed Khan was a successful businessman. He was adamant his daughters would be well educated. Both parents were very progressive and encouraged their seven daughters to be self-reliant, independent, and dignified.
It was in the second year of undergraduate studies at the esteemed Aligarh Muslim University, that a professor who would overhear Razia’s fiery comments told her to author a short story in Urdu and enter it in the inter-university competition. Despite never having done it before, that reluctant first attempt landed Razia the second prize.
There was no looking back after that. From becoming the sub editor of her college magazine, being invited by All India Radio to read her short stories, to winning several accolades and awards, among them a very prestigious recognition for being the youngest, award winning short story writer in Urdu at the eminent Mir Taqi Mir awards, at a young age of 21.
Razia also reviewed major stories in the newspapers, and they would be published as headliners as well.
Razia even went on to win first prize as NCC Commander leading a contingent of seventy-four top notch cadets, that too as a young college student. “I remember my throat started bleeding because I was shouting so loudly so every member of my contingent even the last line could hear me.”
“I always wanted to be a writer. Everything else was done to make my father happy because he loved us so much and stood against all the naysayers from both sides of our family who wanted him to just marry off all his daughters as soon as possible. Instead, he chose to educate us and make us self-reliant. My mother always supported him. He stood between us and an entire community of conservative Muslims who thought he was not doing the right thing by educating us. Not only did he do that, but Papa also made sure no one had direct access to us to be mean or disrespectful to us. He taught us to be humble and courteous but never at the expense of tolerating disrespect.”
A telling moment about her father’s faith in the way he had raised his daughters in what was a patriarchal society, came when her father was betrayed by an insider. He sold his factory and their home which was attached to it and gave the entire amount of 26 lakhs (a huge sum at that time) to 21 year-old Razia and said, “Do what you want to do with it.”
Razia built a home for her family, set some money aside for the education of all seven sisters, and started a highly successful business, continuing with her education as well. She landed one of the biggest business deals of the time, completed that deal successfully when a marriage proposal ended her India stint and landed her in the USA with her husband Suhaib Siddiqi. But not before her father-in-law Mehmood Mustafa Siddiqi, an eminent Professor and author of many books, got her to edit a magazine he was publishing in those days. He also introduced her to his library of books that ran into several thousand. “He decided to donate all of them after my mother in law’s death, but I grabbed about three hundred books and kept them hidden in my room! Later when he was regretting his impulsive donations, I took him inside and showed him the three hundred I had taken out. He said ‘I did not know my son had married a chorni (woman burglar),’ but his joy knew no bounds at being reunited with some of his old companions!”
For Razia writing was a passion that led her to meet many eminent writers and artists like Sadia Dehlvi, and Shama Zaidi who encouraged her to continue writing.
For a workaholic like Razia, arriving in the USA with nothing to do, and with Suhaib gone to work all day, was unbearable. “I wasn’t very fluent in English and there wasn’t much to do in Urdu.” A few days into her arrival, Razia picked up the phone directory and started calling random people to make friends. She connected with several eminent alumni of Aligarh Muslim University in Boston. Among them was Shehla, the wife of the award-winning poet, lyricist, dialogue writer, Rahi Masoom Raza. Shehla invited Razia home and Razia met one hundred interesting people in one night. And so friendships began.
In the meantime, Suhaib created an Urdu Club on Yahoo for her and very soon there were seven hundred eminent Urdu poets and writers who joined from all over the world. Razia ran the Club from 2006-2013. Out of it emerged a magazine called “Deedawar,” sharing the work of the members. The UAE Indian Embassy honored Razia as Teacher of the Year in 2012.
“What was really gratifying was that I worked with seven hundred poets and writers singlehandedly and there was never any dispute. I grew up with thirteen male cousins and their friends and I was the only girl in that age group so till today I am more comfortable working with men and feel the wavelength is similar. Of course I get along with like-minded women as well.”
Razia was instrumental in creating a live event on the life of the eminent poet Sahir Ludhianvi on stage and read a 15-minute paper on his life. The show was sold out and the organizers had to put out extra seats.
Many people who loved Indian cinema and music connected with Razia as a result.
This led to Razia creating a website called Boston Desi Connection where she started connecting people to people by posting flyers, promoting events, restaurants, grocery stores, and other outlets. The mailing list that was created started getting bigger and bigger. In 2015 Boston Desi Connection became BDC TV LLC.
Razia continued with her creative work and multimedia events based on the lives of legendary actors Madhubala and Meena Kumari, which were staged and appreciated.
Razia was still not satisfied. She wanted to do something different, something that would have a national and global impact.
They say when you want something with pure intent and a genuine desire to create a platform to help others, the Universe aligns.
In 2015, she received an invitation to the New York Indian film festival and attending that was the major turning point in her life “It had everything I loved. Writing, direction, screenplays, unusual topics, which would never become exposed made by brilliant people, not necessarily from the world of films. And I decided that was where I wanted to focus my energy on.
I am not good at multi-tasking. I focus all my attention and energy on one thing at a time and will give it my best shot, till I accomplish what I wanted to accomplish.”
For two years Razia observed, tried to learn the ropes and the India International film Festival of Boston came into being in 2018.
Razia wanted a team that could understand her vision and support her dream. Several people stepped forward, but it was the women who stayed, and it became a festival run by women. Today things are more balanced seven years later, though women are still in the forefront with Razia heading the festival, supported by the outstanding team of Dr. Tapasya Srivastava, Priya Samant Parulekar, Arundhati Dayte, Meera Siddharth, Sheeba Mashkoor, Suraja Menon Chaudhry, Anu Sharma, Sugandha Gopal, Razia’s husband Suhaib, Dr. Rohit Chandra, Chirag Shah and their exceptional tech team comprising of Ravi Penumarthi, Ramesh Dadigala and Surender Madadi.
“I still remember Rohit and I were introduced through a common friend. Rohit decided to support us and showed up with an encyclopedia on films to make sure he knew what he was getting into!” says Razia with a laugh.
Unlike festivals that comprise of members and jury from the films, like the Oscars for example and other film festivals, IIFFB and many like it comprise of members, and film makers from every profession under the sun. It brings a great diversity and variety of ideas, and outlook to the table,
Razia realized soon enough that the only thing that teaches you anything is when you get your feet wet. “I personally received a lot of criticism and discouragement. The festival was already presumed to be badly organized, even before it began and even my own team did not agree to some of the awards I wanted to present to honor stalwarts of the Indian Film industry. We even got negative comments from avid cinema goers. ‘You are showing so many films in three days. How can we see ALL of them?’ So, they refused to buy tickets. We had to explain that it was no different than going to the movies. You look at the trailer, see the sneak previews, and choose which couple of movies you wanted to see, among the many releases. We assured the people that there would be enough time, and refreshments to give them a break. But it was quite tough to get community support.”
The 2018 festival taught Razia and her team a lot. They were able to pinpoint their mistakes, acknowledge them very candidly without giving any excuses and that was what touched me, and I shared it with Vikas Khanna in 2019.
What happened next was what dreams are made of. “We were still struggling, there was a lot of negative whispering behind our backs and even within earshot. I heard whispers like, “She cannot speak English, so she does not know anything.“
I told Razia, if being fluent in English was the only criteria for success, Kapil Dev would not be a legend today. Neither would some of the most legendary filmmakers and legendary actors from various countries including India.
“True. Well, I continued to work hard and continued to learn. I do not give up; I fight and keep going. I always tell myself what my father always told me to do. Fight for what is right, and I always have this motto that I will not give in until I fail completely. I can say this with gratitude that things have always worked out for me, in the end.”
“It was Vikas Khanna who turned everything around for IIFFB. Kavita, I can never thank you, Sunny Thakker, Sunayana, enough, for working together to bring Vikas to Boston. And to Vikas for his generosity. His tweets and Neena Gupta’s, about the festival went viral globally and put IIFFB on the global map. If you remember Kavita, I was crying when you called me. They were tears of great gratitude. After that, all the people who had not supported us or had been critical started calling us wanting to be a part of the event for the next year. Covid happened but good things continued to happen, and we are continuing to learn and improve.”
“So many dignitaries have come to the festival, Vikas Khanna, Asha Parekh, A.G Nadiadwala, Farida Jalal, Subhash Ghai and now we are so excited to have the legendary Sharmila Tagore as our chief Guest on the 15th of September to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Priya Samant Parulekar has been instrumental in helping me bring some of these legends to the festival. People had asked, ‘Why are you giving these unnecessary awards? Especially the Lifetime Achievement Award, with all the expenses involved since we were just starting out.”
“I said these are people who deserve to be acknowledged for their immense contribution to Indian cinema. Sixty-two years ago, when Filmfare started giving out awards, they did not have the stature they have now. Everyone starts from somewhere, the first time. I went with my gut, and it is now one of the most appreciated awards with which we honor legends from the Indian film industry.”
IIFFB has also highlighted thought provoking panel discussions and built bridges by honoring immigrants from diverse ethnic groups who have come to USA, paid their dues, and continued to make a difference in the lives of others. Additionally, IIFFB has showcased films from other countries to continue that bridge building.
“The Panel discussions are among my favorite parts of the festival,” says Razia. “We have had passionate discussions on women and children’s issues. There was a heart-breaking documentary that I still remember, “Living on the Edge” by Opender Chanana about the dismal conditions faced by people who work behind the scenes in Bollywood which prides itself on being a global presence. I do not think anything has changed even today. The discussions are always very productive, and the audience is very engaged in the moment. I hope some good comes out of us trying to create awareness.”
The key challenges for South Asian festivals remain a lack of funding and support and IIFFB is no different. “Very often organizers do not even break even, but we continue because these festivals help connect people to each other and collaborations are happening. And I hope that the local community and corporations will help support us to bring great films, and diverse voices that would not be heard if it were not for platforms like ours.”
IIFFB will run from the 13th through the 15th of September 2024.
Hope to see many of you there.
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