Bharath Stores (2012)

Stills

In the backdrop of Globalization, Indian Economy started acquiring a new face of modernization through liberalization over the last 20 yrs. Glittering Malls & Marts were seen as some of the symbols of   modernization. City dwellers who were solely dependent on Kiraana (neighborhood) Stores   getting attracted to Malls & Marts leading to societal turmoil forms the subject of  ”Bharat Stores”

Bharathi has come to Bengaluru from America after nine years with her husband Sharath. She had promised her father that she would repay his dues to Mr Govinda Shetty.

The queries to that effect went in vain.
Now the frantic search begins. By the fruition of a dedicated search, she meets Chandru and Manjunath, who had worked in that shop. Chandru tells her how he learnt along with the tricks of the trade, to be humane from him. Manjunath tells her, he stayed in the shop till the end until Shetty was hospitalized. He brings her to the Old Age Home. Bharathi finds Shetty there gazing at nothing, having stopped speaking for months and unable to react to her.
Globalisation and Liberalisation brought the countries nearer. It is a couple of decades India also accepted these, resulting in the gradual change in the lifestyle. Malls and Marts popped up. New ethics and style of business were adapted. Curious clientele gradually were being attracted to the Mall culture. Repercussion was the deteriorating retail, small and box shops. Govinda Shetty too was a victim of the Tsunami of this dangerous evolution. It is the status of lakhs and lakhs of those like him.

On 14th Sept 2012, Central Cabinet of India approved  51%  Foreign Direct Investment in Multi-Brand Retail  in pursuit of its Economic Reforms.   Public Debate followed this Breaking News. The story of Bharat Stores was born as a natural reaction.

Before this, in 1991, Government had opened itself to liberalization of Indian Economy.  Present Prime Minister was then the Finance Minister. In these intervening years, India has been a witness to many changes in our Economic Policies.

In this backdrop, interaction with Owners of Kirana Shops, Road-side Small Traders, and Consumers threw up many viewpoints.  Implications of  the impending competition  was clearly the main issue, and  writing on the wall as they could see was that it would be difficult to face Competition ,and these neighborhood shops would see a natural, but sad end  sooner than later, and these present Owners could  survive only as Workers elsewhere in days to come.
Bharat Stores took the final shape as a film in the process of exploration of the socio-cultural implications of this development.

1991
Govt  of  India  took  certain  steps  which  gave  its  Socialistic Economy  a tilt  towards  Free  Market  Economy
1997
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Cash & Carry in Wholesale was permitted
2012 (September)
India announced the opening of FDI in multi brand retail
2012 (December)
After  heated  debates, Govt  of  India  secured  vote  of  approval  in  both  houses  of  Parliament  for  its  FDI policy