Where are they now? Indians from 1967

Summary

The video script recounts the unexpected virality of a 1967 documentary 'I am 20', featuring 20-year-olds discussing their aspirations for India. The creator's re-edit and colorization breathed new life into the footage, gaining massive online traction. It explores the diverse backgrounds and predictions of the interviewees, some of whom were tracked down, revealing their current lives and contributions to society. The video ponders the evolution of individual dreams and India's progress, inviting viewers to define their own success and India's future.

Takeaways

• 🎬 The video is an edit of a 1967 documentary titled 'I am 20', created by the Film Division of India, featuring interviews with individuals born in 1947 about their thoughts on India and their future.
• 📈 The video gained sudden popularity after comments from Abhi and Niyu, leading to over 400,000 views and extensive online discussion.
• 🌟 The documentary provides a multifaceted view of India in 1967, featuring diverse individuals from different regions, economic backgrounds, and political views.
• 🤖 The video was colorized using Artificial Intelligence algorithms and General Adversarial Networks, making it appear more contemporary and relatable.
• 📚 The high level of English proficiency in the video is attributed to the interviewees being students from IIT Bombay, one of India's top colleges.
• 🧐 The video's premise of interviewing 20-year-olds about their future is both intriguing and ahead of its time, reminiscent of modern social experiments.
• 🔍 The video's creator conducted extensive research to find the names and current status of some interviewees, revealing their life paths and contributions to society.
• 🌈 Nayana Puranik, one of the interviewees, represented the urban, independent woman of 1960s India and later led a fulfilling life with a family and a secret past in the film.
• 🌱 Anubroto Kumar Roy (Dunu Roy), who aspired to learn languages and contribute to society, ended up working in rural development and is now the director of the Hazards Centre in New Delhi.
• 🏆 Shaileshji, who initially criticized society and nation, went on to establish a plastics company, sell it, and contribute to the drafting of the national RTI Act, earning him the Distinguished Alumnus Award from IIT Bombay.
• 🤔 The video script concludes with a reflection on the nature of success and the right to define one's own life story, encouraging viewers to consider their own definitions of success and India's future.

Q & A

What was the original purpose of the video 'I am 20' made in 1967?

The original purpose of the video 'I am 20' was to interview 20-year-olds who were born in 1947, exactly 20 years after India's independence from British rule. Filmmaker SNS Sastry aimed to capture their thoughts, aspirations, and goals about their lives and the future of India.

Why did the video become popular only after a long time?

The video initially flopped and had very few views. Its popularity surged after Abhi and Niyu left a comment saying 'This is gold', which led to a rapid increase in views, comments, reaction videos, and social media discussions.

What was unique about the video 'I am 20' for its time?

The video was unique for its time because it had a modern, layered approach to capturing diverse perspectives from people across regions, economic backgrounds, and political views in India. This kind of concept was not common in 1967, making it intriguing and ahead of its time.

How did the video's creator enhance the viewing experience?

The creator enhanced the viewing experience by editing the video intelligently to make it feel as if Sastryji was talking directly to the viewer. Additionally, the creator colorized the original black and white video using Artificial Intelligence algorithms and General Adversarial Networks, making it feel more surreal and contemporary.

Why were the interviewees in the video so fluent in English despite the low literacy rate in India at the time?

Many of the English-speaking interviewees were students from IIT Bombay, one of India's best colleges, which explains their fluency. Sastryji sought smart and thoughtful answers, so he chose to interview some of the brightest students there.

What was the significance of the video's use of British English?

The use of British English in the video was significant as it was more common in India at the time compared to American English, which is more prevalent today. This reflects the historical context and the influence of British colonial rule on the English language in India.

Who was Nayana Puranik and what did she discuss in the video?

Nayana Puranik was a charming young lady from an urban city who spoke in Hindi. In the video, she discussed issues like eve-teasing and her views on marriage, reflecting the progressive mindset of urban Indian women in the 1960s.

What happened to Anubroto Kumar Roy, also known as Dunu Roy, after the video?

After graduating from IIT, Anubroto Kumar Roy worked in rural development for 17 years, helping villagers solve problems. He later became the director of the Hazards Centre in New Delhi, working with the urban poor.

What was the impact of Shaileshji's post-graduation activities on Indian society?

Shaileshji founded Clear Plastics Ltd to provide employment. He later sold his company and became involved in policy work, contributing to the drafting of the national RTI Act. His work aimed to make the government more accountable and reduce corruption.

What is the moral of the story according to the video's creator?

The moral of the story, as suggested by the video's creator, is that people change over time, and it is unfair to expect someone to remain the same after 50 years. It encourages viewers to define their own success and write their own life stories.

What is the video's creator's view on India's future?

The video's creator does not predict the future of India but instead asks viewers to share their thoughts and predictions. The creator emphasizes the importance of individual contributions to the country's success.