The Frog is the Pond's Witness(2022)
A photoplay that depicts various social performances: conversation, labour, gossip, revelry, dinner, conspiracy - that transpire on the sidelines of an annual religious congregation inside a New Delhi public park. The observer declares the distance of their vantage point from the event of the ceremony and employs this facility to map the topographies of inclusion and exclusion that exist across the parkscape. The title of the film refers to an old Punjabi proverb: 'Khuaje da Guwah Daddu ('ਖੁਆਜੇ ਦਾ ਗੁਵਾਹ ਡੱਡੂ)', which describes the frog who claims to be - much like the filmmaker and the park - a witness of the life within the pond. The phrase is doused in lament, though, for how can a frog describe without bias a system that ultimately stands to benefit it.
Quick Facts
- Theatrical Release
- 12 October 2022
- Director
- Anuj Malhotra
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 3m
Storyline
This documentary observes a religious gathering in a Delhi park. It watches the social activities happening around the main event, like people talking, working, and eating. The title comes from a proverb about a frog witnessing life in its own pond, suggesting the film's view is both close and limited.
“A park holds secrets only a frog can tell.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The film was shot entirely in Delhi's Lodhi Garden, a popular public park, over several days during a religious festival.
- It uses no professional actors, featuring only real people attending the festival and park visitors.
- The title comes from a Punjabi proverb about a frog witnessing life in a pond, reflecting the filmmaker's observational role.
- Director Anuj Malhotra also operated the camera himself, using a single handheld digital camera for the entire film.
- The film has no scripted dialogue, capturing only spontaneous conversations and ambient sounds from the park.
- It was funded through a grant from the India Foundation for the Arts, a nonprofit supporting experimental art projects.
- The movie premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, known for showcasing avant-garde cinema.