In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones is a blast from India’s past.
This TV film is about seniors in Delhi’s premier architecture college who are trying to pass their exams, but it is also so much more than that.
In exploring the challenges of the students, the film also contrasts various ideologies and philosophies next to each other while also highlighting architecture’s lost purpose of contributing to social upliftment.
In fact, In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones almost seems more relevant today, even though it came out in 1989.
This begs the question: was it inspired by real events?
Is In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones Based on a True Story?
It seems as though In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones is largely fictional, with some elements being partially rooted in reality. The script was penned by (the now Booker Prize-winning) Arundhati Roy, who herself was a student of architecture at the famous School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) in New Delhi.
It is worth noting that most characters and situations, however, are fictional.
In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones was released on Doordarshan and would have been virtually lost to obscurity if not for camera recordings of the film on VCR. In fact, the original print of the film does not exist anymore. Furthermore, it was never shown in theatres.
As per a 2016 article written by an SPA alum, Gaurav Sharma, for AA Conversations, many in the cast were also a part of the college in various capacities at different points in their academic/professional careers. The architect-founder pointed out how Jagan Shah (second-year studio tutor), Golak Khandwal (semiotics lecturer), and Roy herself (who gave a lecture on nuclear non-proliferation) contributed to their alma mater.
The report also claimed that principal Billimoria/Yamdoot seemed to be based on the real-life Professor Jhabvala, who retired as the Director of SPA back in 1978.
Apart from its people, what also lends the film this “real” quality is the very themes it deals with. Each student has a distinct personality and worldview that is represented beautifully. While Annie is passionate about socially conscious designs, Radha is a staunch feminist who challenges gender norms at every turn.
Plus, the film really packs a punch because it juxtaposes contradictory ideas and philosophies next to each other.
For instance, Radha’s thesis is about what role, if any, the architect should play, via his constructions, in helping bridge socio-economic inequality in a country as populated as India. Is it even their “responsibility” to do so in a modern, capitalistic society that constantly places money above people?
Annie, too, comes up with some amazing ideas that cater to the unique plight of Indian cities and villages, only to be constantly looked down upon by Yamdoot.
Some of the issues touched upon in In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones are still being discussed today, such as the state of the Indian education system, feminism, and wealth and resource inequality.
Hence, it is evident that the script, while not firmly based on a true story, has borrowed heavily from the cultural and social conversations of its time. It’s an evergreen film, one that still resonates heavily today.
