I sat at Queen’s Hall last Sunday (Jan 8) and looked forward for a well-researched with new information and directions for the Indian diaspora but was totally disappointed with what was revealed in “Aagman” a movie or documentary produced by Parsan Productions.
Whilst the producers’ intentions were pure and well-intentioned, “Aagman” fell short of the clear intent of the producers.
The second Premiere at Queen’s Hall attracted a sizable audience. I am sure that most of the patrons were not fully happy with the presentation. I am not sure whether it was billed as a documentary or movie, and to my mind it was just a show. What was beamed on the screen was nothing new as it was seen every Indian Arrival Day celebrations across Trinidad and Tobago. In fact, these Indian Arrival Day portrayals were more authentic and original than Aagman.
The photography was not too functional as there were several lapses during the show, and one would have thought that the photography would have added an aura of professionalism but did not work out.
One would think that Indian indentureship would have been given a fresh look, and by that, I mean the script should have incorporated the foundations for it. We must remember that other countries sent workers to Trinidad and Tobago. To name a few Spain and China, and their presence did not work out well.
Then India was the next hope for the British and French planters, and in excess of 147,000 East Indians were brought here with approximately 300 ships starting with the Fatel Razack in 1865 and culminating with the S.S.Ganges in 1917. The photocopy of British Parliamentarians was sensible.
The first batch of Indians were sent to Mauritius, followed by Fiji, Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad, Jamaica, Guadeloupe and Africa not necessarily in that order.
Parsan Productions should have expertise guidance in the formulation of Aagman, notably Prof. Brinsley Samaroo among others, and his intervention would have given a scholarly input. But that did not happen, or nowhere.
Looking forward to another attempt of Aagman with the view to give a new perspective for the Indian diaspora, probably a model society.