Journalism of Courage
No children allowed inside,said a blue notice board outside the auditorium at the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) premises. Never mind the sign,this day was all about children. Hundreds of tiny slippers and shoes lay scattered outside the theatre,while inside,their young owners perched on the plush red seats,their feet dangling from the chairs. A sense of anticipation filled the air,as children kept looking towards the screen. One of them,who had come with his parents,asked,When will the movie begin? Will it be about children?
None of them knew what to expect,as this was the first session of Arbhaat Childrens Film Club. What they did know was that,for once,they were the guests of honour,and their parents were just tagging along. A young woman came on stage and asked the audience members if they were ready for the movie,to which the children responded with a loud Ho!. She asked all the aais and babas to switch off their cellphones,and asked the children to sit back
and enjoy the film.
A hush fell over the theatre,as the beginning credits on the screen announced the name of the movie. It was Children of Heaven,an Iranian family drama that was nominated for the Oscars in 1998. It follows the story of a brother and sister through their adventures over a lost pair of shoes. The brother misplaces his sisters pink shoes,but neither of them have the courage or the heart to tell their father,who is struggling to make ends meet.
In one scene,when the father scolds the boy,Ali,for some mistake,many in the audience winced in commiseration. Ali hears about a race which has a pair of new sneakers as third prize,and he makes up his mind to win the third place instead of the first. By this time,the audience was already invested in his story,and a child whispered to the other,What if he doesnt come third?. His friend whispered back knowingly,He wont come third. Hell come first. Youll see.
When the movie ends,and with it the duos trials,the children applauded. The young woman returned on the stage and asked whether they enjoyed the film and wanted to come back for more,and the kids answered with another loud Ho!. Well screen more movies. But next time,dont bring your parents,come with your friends, she said. The signboard outside the auditorium might as well be changed to No parents allowed inside.
The next screening is on September 7,at NFAI auditorium
