Dharavi slum dwellers make documentary films on their lives

Twenty five teenaged girls of Mumbais Dharavi slum made five films under a unique project, SHE Creates, on social issues like sexual exploitation, gender discrimination, female foeticide, dowry deaths and domestic violence.

By Anand Srivastava

Mumbai, Oct 6 : Twenty five teenaged girls of Mumbai's Dharavi slum made five films under a unique project, 'SHE Creates', on social issues like sexual exploitation, gender discrimination, female foeticide, dowry deaths and domestic violence.

Many of these issues are a part of their daily lives.

A special show of the film, was recently organised by a voluntary organisation. It aimed at to empowering these underprivileged slum girls with a chance to show their talent in filmmaking.

Many eminent filmmakers, besides businessmen and philanthropists, turned up at the special ceremony to showcase these documentary films.

"I think that more events like this should be organised because when we handover audio-visual medium in our girls' hands, then they tell their stories themselves," said Mahesh Bhatt, a Bollywood film producer and director.

"We should create a society where people can talk about their sorrows, pains and dreams on their own and this camera is playing a role of their tongue," Bhatt added.

Another director Madhur Bhandarkar, who has made social films like Chandni Bar, Page 3, Corporate and Traffic Signal to his credit, said the event was a step in the right direction.

"I think the organiser has done a very good job in making the girls and children of slums so capable by teaching them film-making. With so much of labour, very little education and not being trained in the basics, they have still made a film on such short notice and it is very admirable," said Bhandarkar.

The girls said that being given a chance to make these documentary films has given wings to their dreams.

"We had a wonderful experience because we never thought that we will become filmmakers one day," said Neha, a resident.

These documentary films will be shown in various venues across Mumbai.

ANI