IDSFFK 2025: Bedabrata Pain Explores Farm Protests in ‘Deja Vu

Rapid Summary

• The International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) 2025 features a documentary titled Deja Vu directed by Bedabrata Pain in the Long Documentary Competition category.
• Deja Vu explores parallels between market-oriented agricultural reforms in India and similar reforms enacted in the U.S. under President Ronald Reagan during the 1980s.
• Pain undertakes a 10,000 km road trip across America to document the impact of these policies, showcasing farming families facing economic ruin, abandoned villages, corporate land ownership, and widespread farmer suicides.
• The filmmaker highlights cases of devastation in sectors like grain farming, dairy production, and livestock-where corporations replaced small-scale farmers-suggesting far-reaching socioeconomic consequences.
• The documentary combines emotional narratives with striking data to provoke thought on whether “free market” reforms primarily benefit corporations over farmers.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The inclusion of Deja Vu at IDSFFK underscores the enduring debate about agricultural reform policies globally. By drawing comparisons with shifts that occurred during Reagan-era U.S., Bedabrata Pain’s documentary acts as both a cautionary tale and a critical reflection on India’s policy direction amidst its farmer protests.Farmer suicides and rural economic collapse are significant markers implicating potential pitfalls when free-market idealism overlooks ground realities faced by vulnerable populations.

With agricultural reform remaining contested terrain in India post-farm law repeal debates, reflections from international experiences merit careful deliberation. Such documentaries contribute to public discourse by anchoring broader discussions on balancing growth-focused policymaking with equitable outcomes for smallholder farmers who form India’s agrarian backbone.

Read More: Link