Kamli: A film dedicated to the girl child
August 14, 2006
Nandita Das (Kamli) -- in an old sari and slightly tattered blouse with pallu wrapped around her head -- goes up to the man sitting on the table, puts her thumb impression and collects some money (probably her wages).
Shafi, as Reddya is called, lights up his beedi and immediately throws it when his name is called out. Staggering as if drunk, he goes towards the man sitting at the table. One also sees the supervisor trying to flirt with Kamli, the construction worker.
After the shot, Nandita takes a break and tells us, "Due to poverty, many men want to make easy money by selling their children. Women are more emotional. This story has many layers. Kamli gives birth to a son. The child is swapped as my husband wants to sell the child. Kamli screams for her son and creates a ruckus and she goes on a dharna. It is the journey of a mother and daughter."
Nandita decided to do the film after hearing the story. "We need to tell stories of marginalised communities and market them better," she says. "Although this is a local story, this issue is a pan Indian phenomenon with a universal appeal."
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