I, Poppy

A mother and son clash over how best to confront an unjust system in this compelling Hot Docs Best International Feature Documentary winner.

Vardibai is an elderly poppy farmer, a wise, hardworking realist whose first instinct is caution. Her son, Mangilal, is a schoolteacher and activist passionately fighting against the corrupt status quo. Living and working in Rajasthan, both are members of the so-called “untouchable” Dalit caste, situated at the bottom of India’s rungs of privilege. While Mangilal protests for better pay for farmers, Vardibai worries that their lives – including the prospects of Mangilal’s own young adult sons – are going to come crumbling down as a result. As these two strong-willed individuals struggle to find common cause in a changing world, their plight mirrors that of communities across India.

Vivek Chaudhary’s award-winning debut feature documentary, shot over four years, explores generational differences, ever-shifting class dynamics and political corruption. I, Poppy is the latest instalment in what has become a golden age of Indian documentary, in which filmmakers from across the diverse country have brought stories to the screen that speak to real issues with intimacy and urgency.

“Offers a sobering portrait of a rebel and the cost of his rebellion … a ruminative film on poppy cultivation and the insidious way the process in India is tied to exploitation more than growth.” – Mint