'Joy Ride' unveils the art of spinning giant wheel

Panaji, Dec 1 (IANS) Documentary films showcased at the 38th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here have shown some exceptional stories and Manisha Issrani Misra's 'Joy Ride' is one of them.

Manisha's camera peeps into the lives of the people who were instrumental in keeping the wheels of the cheap rides or manually handled giant wheels, at Juhu Beach, going round and round in her 10-minute documentary film.

'What fascinated me the most was that they call it an art and want to show it to the world,' said Manisha, who has assisted well-known filmmakers Ashutosh Gowariker, Prakash Jha and Ram Gopal Varma.

'I shot (the film) in 2002, before these rides were banned on Juhu beach. My brother gave me a mini DVD camera and I was at Juhu beach filming everything and then I got stuck with it.

'I had been on the ride earlier but never tried to know how it works. But that day I saw how they were manually managing it and it fascinated me. I started filming them and decided to make a film on them,' she said.

However, Manisha couldn't make the film in the manner she wanted to because by the time she finished her research work, everything was removed from Juhu beach.

'Thankfully, that footage was there with me and I had the urge to make the film. I used the shots that I captured with my mini DVD camera. I'm glad that my film is shown at the film fest and that everybody liked it,' the director said.

Asked about her future plans, Manisha said: 'I don't know what path is ahead for me. I always have concepts for TV documentaries and films. I realised that I am interested in making films during the orientation programme at the mass communication course at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. It was way back in 1995. After that it's my first film, so it has taken its own time.'

Her film will also participate in the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival.

Other documentary filmmakers who brought some unique stories are Supriyo Sen whose 'Hope Dies Last in War' shows the struggle of the families of prisoners of war and Bishnu Dev Halder whose 'Bagher Bacha' captures the lives of the children living on railway platforms.