The 55th International Film Festival of India saw two exemplary films ‘Amma’s Pride’ and ‘Onko Ki Kothin’ being adored by cinema lovers from all around the country. The makers and artistes of the two films interacted with the media on November 24 at a press conference held in Panaji, Goa, informed the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
Amma’s Pride: A Journey of Resilience and Pride
The only LGBTQ+ film this year at IFFI, Amma’s Pride is a raw and honest portrayal of a trans-woman fighting for her dignity and pride all throughout her life.
The short film, selected for the non-Feature films section in Indian Panorama, deals with the trials and tribulations of Srija, a young trans woman from South India. The way she navigates the complexities of her marriage and fights for its legal recognition and how her mother, Valli, wholeheartedly supports and guide her, is the centre point of the film.
Talking about his movie to the media, Shiva Krish, the Director highlights that films depicting the issues of the transgender people are very few and in between. “They often portray the trans people in stereotypical negative lights, leaving them disheartened. The backbone of the film is the mother Valli, who enables her daughter to live her life in her own terms despite being a single mother herself”, he remarked.
Hoping that the perception of society to change towards trans people, the debutante Director shares, “We showed the film to senior LGBTQ activists and many trans people, to get their feedbacks and they were amazed by the positivity shown in the film. That was a huge morale booster for me. They also want this film to have a social impact and we are planning to do an impact campaign around this film in India as well as the Unites States, which I hope will create a positive wave in the mainstream media for trans people”.
Earning accolades across film festivals, the documentary film has won Sher Vancouver Award for Best LGBTQ+ Film at the International South Asian Film Festival in Canada this year. It has also been screened and appreciated by the audience at many festivals worldwide like the 64th Krakow Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival 2024, International South Asian Film Festival Canada 2024 and many more.
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Onko Ki Kothin – Dreams in the midst of adversity
A world premiere in 55th IFFI, the Bengali Feature film ‘Onko Ki Kothin’ has also been selected for the section Indian Panorama. The film tracks the story of three underprivileged little kids who build a makeshift hospital and goes through numerous challenges in the quest to sustain it. The story ends with hope, questioning whether these three kids will achieve their dreams against all odds.
“The story is about the hope and determination of the three children, namely Babin, Dolly and Tyre”, Saurav Palodhi, the Director of the film shares. “Many government schools were shut down during the Covid pandemic which brough a halt to the education of many underprivileged children. If the factories of dreams i.e schools are shut down, where the children will learn to dream. So, that was the core idea that struck my mind when I thought of making a movie.”
Also present in the conference, Ushashi Chakraborty, Actress in the film, shed light on how the story moved her to select this project. “There are very few films representating kids from the underprivileged background in Indian Cinema. When I read the script, I felt this story needed to be told to a bigger audience. This story of 3 kids who never quit despite all the hurdles is an inspiring tale for future generations”.
“In our country, parents from underprivileged background sends their kids only for the midday meal, learning is secondary for them. I have seen from close quarters how the the dreams of these children are shattered by the limitations and economical constraints of their parents. So, making this movie was my way to bring out the harsh reality of these children while showing their determination and honesty”, concludes Palodhi.
