Documentary
Filmmaker S Sukhdev to get a grand tribute on his 35th death anniversary
NEW DELHI: The renowned late filmmaker S Sukhdev who set new trends in documentary and non-feature films in the country will be remembered on his 35th death anniversary on 1 March with the screening of the film The Last Adieu by Shabnam Sukhdev.
The event to be held in Films Division in Pedder Road in Mumbai will also see the release of DVDs of Sukhdev’s films.
The Last Adieu is a 90-minute film with English sub-titles that is a personal quest of a filmmaker daughter to unravel the past and make a connection with her filmmaker father, S. Sukhdev, who died suddenly at the age of 46, leaving behind a huge body of work and an unresolved relationship with his daughter.
While he was an accomplished filmmaker in the public eye, his family had another story to tell. With the help of archival audio recordings, old photographs and Sukhdev’s films, Shabnam endeavours to construct a picture of her father as she struggles to love and respect him for who he was.
The film is an important record of a phase in documentary history that inspired and paved the way for the new wave in non-fiction narratives, and pays homage to Sukhdev, an important filmmaker who revolutionised documentary filmmaking in India in the mid sixties and through the seventies.
Produced by Films Division and directed by Shabnam Sukhdev, the film has been edited by Jabeen Merchant with sound design and sound mixing by Mohandas VP and camerawork by Ashwin Shukla.
Sukhdev directed 29 films between 1958 and 1980, his last documentary Sahira being released after his death.
Some of his renowned films were After the Silence, Thunder of Freedom, Nine Months to Freedom: The Story of Bangladesh, Khilonewala, Tomorrow May Be Too Late, An Indian Day, Homage to Lal Bahadur, After the Eclipse, Wild Life in India, And Miles to Go…, and Frontiers of Freedom.
He also directed the feature – My Love in 2970 starring Shashi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore, apart from writing, producing and scripting some other films.
Documentary
Discovery Channel premieres Unani Ki Kahaani on World Unani Day
Actor Jim Sarbh narrates a journey through Unani medicine, history, and modern wellness
MUMBAI: In celebration of World Unani Day, Discovery Channel has premiered Unani Ki Kahaani, a captivating new documentary narrated by actor Jim Sarbh. The film explores Unani medicine not just as an ancient tradition but as a philosophy of health that remains relevant in today’s world of lifestyle disorders and chronic illnesses.
Produced in collaboration with Hamdard Laboratories, the documentary traces Unani medicine from its roots in ancient Greece to its flourishing practice in India. Along the way, it asks a simple yet profound question: what does it really mean to be healthy? And why do we often treat symptoms without curing the underlying problem?
At the heart of Unani medicine is the belief in balance, between body, mind, spirit, and environment. The documentary reflects on moments like the Covid-19 pandemic, when India turned to both modern medicine and its own centuries-old systems of preventive care.
Jim Sarbh’s narration gives the story a modern voice, guiding viewers through history, philosophy, and science with curiosity and clarity.
Hamdard Laboratories chairman and managing trustee Abdul Majeed said, “Unani Ki Kahaani invites viewers to see healing as more than symptom relief. It is about balance, prevention, and long-term wellbeing. Through Unani medicine, we aim to help everyone understand that true healing restores harmony.”
Commenting on his role, Jim Sarbh added, “Narrating Unani Ki Kahaani was a learning experience. I was struck by how this system connects history, culture, and the idea of living in balance.”
The film brings historical icons such as Hippocrates and Ibn Sina together with Indian pioneers including Hakim Ajmal Khan, Hafiz Abdul Majeed, and Hakeem Abdul Hameed, showing how Unani has evolved as a living, adaptive system shaped by multiple cultures.
Featuring insights from modern medicine, Ayurveda, Unani practitioners, academics, and public health experts, Unani Ki Kahaani bridges traditional knowledge with contemporary healthcare. Its aim is to make holistic healing approachable for everyone, especially younger audiences seeking deeper understanding in a fast-paced world.
