Thursday, March 28, 2024

“Champion of social justice”: Activists, friends mourn KP Sasi’s death

Veteran documentary filmmaker and human rights defender KP Sasi who died today in Kerala was a champion of social justice, said friends and activists mourning his death.

64-year-old Sasi breathed his last in a private hospital in Kerala’s Thrissur on Sunday. Sasi who won the national award for best director for ‘Ilayum Mullum’ (Leaves and Thorns) in 1994, directed dozens of documentaries on rights abuses and state terror in India.

“Brave warrior of human rights,” tweeted Solidarity Youth Movement.

“Extremely sad news that dear friend and documentary film maker K.P.Sasi has left us. A great loss to all of us and all the people, issues and movements in which he gave his heart,” said Democracy Dialogue founder SQ Masood.

“His loss is really big. KP, you will remain in our memories and thoughts!!” tweeted Forward Press editor Goldy M George.

“Sad news,” veteran activist Shabnam Hashmi responded to the news.

People also took to Twitter to share music videos and documentaries of Sasi.

Sasi’s music videos “Gaon Chorab Nahi” and “America America” are hard-hitting reminders of violence thrust on the oppressed population by capitalism and imperialism.

Sasi’s documentary “Fabricated” is the story of renowned Muslim leader in Kerala, Abdu Nasir Maudany who spent almost ten years in jail as an undertrial in a blast case.

His another documentary film “Voices From the Ruins – Kandhamal in Search of Justice”, a documentary about large-scale violence against Christians in Odisha in 2007 and 2008 exposed the brutal horrors of RSS on the Adivasis Christians of Kandhamal, Orissa.

Rights activists Teesta Setalwad wrote: “K P Sasi, a compassionate, powerful voice of film making,is no more.An era comes to an end.Era of honesty, audacity & passionate commitment to people’s cinema..Rest in peace and power dear comrade Sasi. Cartoonist too! Music for the resistance.”

“Kp Sasi Sir passed away today. Didn’t know our meeting in 2020 would be the last. His music videos were sharp, creative and give message while being funny.. His film “Ilayum Mullum” moved me to tears. Your work inspired many like me and will continue to be. Farewell Sir!,” wrote Swati S.

“Rest in peace; you were a fighter, a rebel, a source of inspiration for many activist filmmakers, a non-conformist in a truly democratic sense. Farewell, Kp Sasiyettan…” read author M Noushad’s Facebook post.

“I also worked with him closely in National Solidarity Forum for over one and half decade. He doggedly pursued the Kandhamal issue for last many years and kept us on toes to keep fighting for Human rights of victims of the violence.
Have not seen his other films but whatever little I have seen; his films, cartoons and writings are outstanding. His work will be an inspiration for us all to pursue the struggle for Human rights with deep understanding and commitment,” said prominent author Ram Puniyani.

“Kp Sasi is no more. He was manythings. Most of all a rebel who walked the talk. Red salutes,” tweeted Sasi’s colleague and Counter Currents editor Binu Mathew.

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