Diamonds in a Vegetable Market

Director: Nilita Vachani

1992 / 68min / 16mm

On the long distance interstate buses that crisscross India, vendors peddling snacks, religious pamphlets, tooth powders, and other wares compete for the attention of travelers using every trick in the book, turning each vehicle and roadside stop into a sort of theater. Vachani’s sensitive, effortlessly engaging documentary looks at these gregarious itinerant salesmen and women in action, while also offering privileged “backstage” views of who they become when their performances stop.

"I watched this film so many years ago but it has stayed with me ever since. Such a deeply human film, the closeness the director enabled me to feel to the characters without ever intruding inspired me as a young documentary filmmaker. I felt such a strong sense of intimacy with them and so very safe in the director’s hands as she explored the public and private selves of her wonderful characters." —Sandhya Suri

Q&A with director Nilita Vachani moderated by film scholar Debashree Mukherjee on Saturday, January 11th