Film screened on travails of women in Old City

Moghalpura: Shaheen Women Resource and Welfare Association has organised a special screening of a short film titled, 'Pinjaronki Udaan,' based on the struggle of women in the Old City of Hyderabad.

The screening was attended by the girl students of government schools and housewives from the Old City, which was held at Urdu Ghar in Moghalpura near Charminar.

The film begins with Jameela Nishat's (the founder & director of Shaheen) personal account on the genesis of the organisation. According to her, the journey has been comprised of contestations, negotiations and challenges. Her reflections on the past struggle point out that religion, caste, and patriarchy are interconnected and have a bearing on women's social position in the household and community.

Speaking about the film, Jameela Nishat said that the run time of the film is 83 min, and that the characters playing in the film are the workers of Shaheen. The characters raise voice against what they face in their lives in the film.

Each of the narratives in the film engages with a range of issues, such as Sheikh wedding, domestic violence and child sex abuse. The film captures the real stories of violence, survival and struggle of women in the Old City of Hyderabad. While the women are from different caste and religious backgrounds, what lies common to their narratives is the sustenance of patriarchy as an everyday challenge to combat with," said Jameela Nishat, Founder and Director of Shaheen.

The faces invisible and the voices that were forbidden to be raised receive significant attention in 'Pinjaronki Udaan.' The film evolves through women's view of everyday life in the Old City, she added.

Jameela Nishat also said that the film is directed by Sujith Kumar, a student of film institution and a native of Kerala, who follows Shaheen on Social Media and upon interaction he visited Hyderabad and wanted to make a documentary film on the issue. He directed the movie in a sensitive, emotional and serious way, she noted.

According to Sultana (one of the characters in the film), "The film beautifully showcases our emotions, voices, and stories of violence. It also offers a message to other women by showing how we have surpassed the hurtful past and embrace the joyful present. She realises that there can be a film on her too. She wishes to invite her family and community members for the screening. She hopes they hear her on the screen and understand what she aspires and long for. She is now filled with hopes," said Sultana.

About the film

The everyday life of women in the Old City is captured in the film by traveling to their homes and places of work. The film gives a glimpse of the day-to-day life in the region by bringing into frames the narrow streets. The journey towards gender equality is not independent of different stakeholders' contribution to the mission. The gender-related issues in the region and mode of intervention made by police and DLSA, along with Shaheen, is also included in the film.

The film awaits screening in multiple platforms, such as academic, activist and cultural forums. Through the screening, Shaheen aims to reach to a wider audience to draw attention to the everyday issues of women in the Old City, and initiate fruitful discussions on gender equality and the mode of intervention for gender justice.

Direction

Sujith Kumar, director of the film, makes a conscious move to pay great attention to the ways in which women confronted oppression. As shown in film, the personal narrative of Tasleem on Sheikh marriage to which she was subjected to moves beyond the 'victim image' and provides an in-depth focus on her courage to contest child marriage and to lead a life with dignity by embracing her own ambitions.

Sultana's narration on domestic violence and Pooja's reflection on caste-based seclusions are also filled with the description of their journey with Shaheen as actors of social change. As the title suggests 'Pinjaronki Udaan' is about the 'rise,' the rise of the invisible from patriarchy.