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Speaking out for the `nameless'
Trafficking in women and children is a gross violation of human rights and has turned out to be a matter of concern for the Government and Non- Governmental Organisations. Every year, lakhs of women and children face commercial sexual exploitation, which is the worst form of human trafficking.
"Anamika" (the nameless) is a documentary on trafficking of women and children from Andhra Pradesh to various parts of the country. The 26-minute documentary directed by Rajesh Touchriver was screened before an invited audience at the Gorky Bhavan on Monday.
Shot in the red light areas of Pune, Mumbai and Delhi, dancing bars, nude dance programmes and massage parlours, it portrays the murkier realities of the flesh trade market.
It narrates how young girls are deceived, forced or coerced to enter the trade every year. The film, which begins with the landmark Gateway of India in Colaba and the adjacent Taj Hotel moves on the red light area of Mumbai. It shows commercial sex workers openly soliciting along the streets and bargaining with the customer.
Three HIV positive girls, who were rescued from the red light area by the Hyderabad-based NGO "Prajwala", narrate how they landed in the flesh trade, the sexual exploitation, pain and trauma they had to face.
A police raid and rescue of 17 minor children from the false ceiling of a tiny room in a red light area is also featured. The film raises questions on civil society's response to combat this problem and the culture of silence that has promoted demand for flesh trade.
"The film has been screened in eight countries so far. It will be screened in the U.S soon. Our aim is to screen the film in villages and create awareness among the villagers as they are the soft targets of this racket," says Sunita Krishnan, social activist who teamed up with Rajesh to launch "Touchriver." . "Admittedly, it is not a well-made film as I did not have any control over the visuals.
The rushes last 28 hours. We used cameras with sizes ranging from that of a button to a sunglass to avoid being caught," says Rajesh, who has won acclaim for his British film iIn the Name of Buddha'.
S. Anil Radhakrishnan
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Life
Bangalore
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Coimbatore
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Thiruvananthapuram
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