Pani
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Directed by Harsh Mahadeshwar | Reviewed by Samiksha Periwal
THIS MOVIE OFFERS ITS VIEWERS AN EMOTIONAL AND OPEN ACCOUNT OF CHALLENGES FACED BY A PARENT RAISING THREE CHILDREN , EACH OF WHOM HAS special needs. It is about the optimism, tenacity, and mental commitment of such parents who provide their children the greatest possible life by going above and beyond the call of duty. Working and managing both of these things requires a great deal of guts, made even more so when you have three kids who require constant help in some capacity. Through this film, writers have tried to bring out a very strong message, that is, ‘Life fails you when you stop trying’. You should absolutely see this movie if you want to learn more about the journey of these brave parents and the meaning of the title "Paani."
The acceptance of specially abled children in our societies even today is very limited. Hence, to bring in this concept and create awareness about such problems is praiseworthy. Subjects such as autism, hearing and speech impairments are very common if you go to see as a whole. However, people which such disabilities are more often than not excluded from the mainstream society because of which we don’t get the opportunity to interact with them. The truth however is that such people are also completely capable of leading normal lives, getting education and having a family in future. They just need a little bit of extra guidance and help from their near ones and the society as a whole. Here comes the role of their parents which is definitely challenging yet extremely important. In this film, Ritika, Rehan and Riju are also one among the special lot who are extremely blessed to have such strong parents who are giving them all the possible help, love and support that they need.
The story of a father taking care of these three children is what the film explores in great length. It is extremely emotional and inspiring. It is suggestive of the fact that when life throws curve balls at you, you should not try to dodge them, because they are meant to hit you, mold you and shape you to become a better person each day. A day in this father’s life managing work, kids and the household when their mother is away becomes even more difficult. This short film's primary cast gives some incredibly strong performances as they weave together a variety of multifaceted themes, including a man's emotional breakdown, young, innocent children's insecurities, and many other topics.
The originality of the content, the relevance of the issue discussed and the apt direction throughout the film act as its USPs. It is lesser travelled path yet a very sensitive issue, hence the correctness was very important on the part of the filmmakers, which they’ve definitely achieved in doing. The mention of different kinds of therapy for catering to the needs of these children, counselling and so on also act as an awareness campaign for mental health which is again a very important issue. More so, showing the troubles of such parents make them no less than superheroes and that message of unconditional love is also very positive and encouraging for the audiences.
If you are someone who likes watching meaningful and inspiring content, this film is a ten on ten for you, however if you are into more of fiction or entertainment-oriented content this might not be your perfect pick. However, this film has definitely created an impact and helped in promoting inclusivity n the society to make is a more wholesome place to live in. Therefore, on our parts we should definitely explore more with this kind of content which brings up issues that have been existing for a very long time, yet have not been touched upon much. Working on such unconventional ideas are definitely a positive sign and this film is a very big thumbs up from a viewer’s perspective for sure.
Samiksha Periwal is an 20 year old student from Kolkata, West Bengal. She is an enthusiast, eager to learn and explore. She has done her schooling from Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, Kolkata and is currently a student of Christ University, Bangalore pursuing a triple major in BA Psychology, Sociology and English. She is a passionate writer and has won many laurels for her school through the years.
