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I For India

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by Maite Alvarez
After re-watching the home movies from her past, director Sandhya Suri realized there was great value in the footage, and an important story that needed to be told. Those home-movies that we can all recognize from our childhood, and look upon with a sense of nostalgia, proved to be priceless and a staple for communicating the life of Sandhya’s father, Yash Pal, accurately and openly. I For India recaptures the experiences of Yash Pal Suri’s journey to the UK from India in 1965, and how he and his family cope with the difficulties of adjusting to a new country and the constant void of having left another.

Sandhya realized that with real, long-term development granted to her, she had to jump at the opportunity, and has created a new insightful story about immigration, with such a personal and intimate touch that one cannot help but feel true concern and happiness for the family as their journey takes its course with highs and lows.

Often, documentaries relating to immigration from the 1960’s in the UK focus on second-generation immigrants, the daughters and sons born and raised here. It is difficult to tell a story in retrospect, and such is the case with those who moved here forty years ago. Sandhya recognizes this complexity and wanted to integrate another layer that would highlight and heighten the stories related to those who immigrated themselves. Perhaps one of the most heart-shattering moments of all is when we hear Yash Pal’s father crying, in a voiceover, because life without his eldest son is unbearable. An account like this one, in real time, is impossible to replicate through explanation years later.
When asked what moment in the movie embodies the film itself, the focal point, Sandhya responded with the move back to India. She explained that along with the initial move came a strong sense of nostalgia. Which felt simultaneously comforting and terrifying. Her father’s return to his original home was daunting; his country was now relatable in some ways and completely foreign to him in others. Nevertheless, although a sad truth in many ways, it affirmed the decision they had made to move to England. The Suri’s returned to the UK with new hope, content that they had given India another chance.

The comfort of a sense of home is something that finally started to settle with the Suri’s at this time as well. Yash Pal did not have to second guess his decisions any longer and now only had to accept that his new home was the UK. Granted, as the film shows, with this comes great difficulty. There is never a final peak level of alleviation, but rather, one can take peace in the realization that each day brings a new appreciation of increasing complacency.

When asked about her and her family’s personal cultural ties with India, Sandhya replied in what seems to be in accordance with her fathers mentality, that they all connect to the country in different ways and different degrees. She herself, feels very close to her culture, and has studied Hindi in order to read, write and speak the language. She travels to India a great deal and makes a conscious effort to connect to her roots when there. Yash Pal’s choice to stay in England does not speak to a preference between the two countries.  His daughter’s tribute to her family and India is testimony to the great kinship the Suri-‘s feel towards their heritage.
Sandhya Suri I For India is Sandhya Suri’s first feature length documentary, financed by ARTE (Germany) and YLE (Finland).
Dir. Sandhya Suri, UK, 2005, 70 mins
Out now on DVD from ICA Films - purchase from Amazon

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