Independent Lens

Powerless

A literal power struggle exists in Kanpur, India, which suffers from day-long electricity cuts. In the Independent Lens documentary Powerless, we meet a Robin Hood-like electrician, a “katiyabaaz” renowned for his prowess in stealing power, and the first female chief of the local power supply company, as they each try to solve the city’s energy crisis in very different ways.

Coming to Independent Lens: Powerless

30s

A literal power struggle exists in Kanpur, India, which suffers from day-long electricity cuts. In the Independent Lens documentary Powerless, we meet a Robin Hood-like electrician, a “katiyabaaz” renowned for his prowess in stealing power, and the first female chief of the local power supply company, as they each try to solve the city’s energy crisis in very different ways.

Previews + Extras

  • Powerless: Crackdown on Katiya: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Powerless: Crackdown on Katiya

    S16 E4 - 5m 32s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Powerless, Ritu Maheshwari, the newly appointed head of the Kanpur, India power company, takes a tough stance against electricity thieves. This leads to a police crackdown as they sweep the city looking for “katiya,” which are jerry-rigged electrical connections, even though many who’ve used them are in desperate situations.

  • Powerless: Electricity Riots: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Powerless: Electricity Riots

    S16 E4 - 1m 16s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Powerless, with the Indian summer settling in, the electricity shortage in Kanpur takes on crisis proportions as riots break out in a literal power struggle, with police cracking down violently on frustrated demonstrators.

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