From the Margins

Kathputli, a short documentary, puts the difficult lives of manual scavengers under the scanner.

With Kathputli, Gupta hopes that it brings awareness to the pitiful conditions of the sewage cleaners, who are taking on the jobs that nobody wants to take and risking their lives while not being provided with safety gear and enough money.

It was the intriguing and disturbing system of caste that led documentary filmmaker Shruti Gupta to explore it in her recent film titled Kathputli. “Unfortunately, I didn’t need to search far and wide for inspiration,” says Gupta.

“Like countless Indians, I had my fair share of front row seats to real-life dramas in and outside my home, where people were treated badly because of their caste status. The likening of a living, breathing human being with that of a puppet that does not possess a life of its own and is thoroughly controlled by others really got me moving to do something,” explains Gupta, about the film which puts the subject of manual scavengers under the scanner.

Gupta has written, directed and edited the film, which has secured the second position in the Savitribai Phule Mullanpur Ludhiana Short Film Festival, organised by National award-winning director Rajeev Kumar.

“Society as a whole takes advantage of the social vulnerability of these people and I hope we no longer treat them like we treat our waste — ‘out of sight, out of mind’ — because they are here and they are here to stay,” adds the 27-year-old filmmaker.

For the film, Gupta went out into the streets of Delhi alone, without a crew, with a single camera, which, she says, was the easy part. Getting people to talk and come forward and share their experiences on camera was a mammoth one, which Gupta says that she wasn’t prepared for.

“They just didn’t want to put it on record. Fear of losing their meagre livelihood was the main reason for not coming forward. I wholeheartedly salute those brave hearts who did come forward and spoke up,” says Gupta, a graduate from Delhi University, for whom the journey of filmmaking began with her love for photography.

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A day before leaving home for her masters in 2015, she got a Nikon DSLR as a present and made a short film titled Pending, which dealt with the complex subject of marriage. “It received an overwhelming response and encouraged me to continue making films,”
says Gupta.

Talking about Kathputli, Gupta says that change is inevitable, but at the rate with which our society is moving, “we need thousands of small documentaries”.

“I sincerely hope that Kathputli succeeds in highlighting the futility of the caste system and how countless issues and problems in India have their roots stemming from it,” she says.

Parul

Parul is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express in Chandigarh. She is a seasoned journalist with over 25 years of experience specializing in public health, higher education, and the architectural heritage of Northern India. Professional Profile Education: Graduate in Humanities with a specialized focus on Journalism and Mass Communication from Panjab University, Chandigarh. Career Path: She began her career covering local city beats and human interest stories before joining The Indian Express in 2009. Over the last decade and a half, she has risen to the rank of Principal Correspondent, becoming the publication’s primary voice on Chandigarh’s premier medical and academic institutions. Expertise: Her reporting is deeply rooted in the institutional dynamics of PGIMER (Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research) and Panjab University. She is highly regarded for her ability to navigate complex administrative bureaucracies to deliver student-centric and patient-centric news. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 - 2025) Her recent work highlights critical reporting on healthcare infrastructure, academic governance, and urban culture: 1. Public Health & PGIMER "PGIMER expands digital registry: Centralized patient records to reduce wait times by 40%" (Nov 20, 2025): A detailed look at the digital transformation of one of India's busiest medical institutes to tackle patient influx. "Robotic Surgery at PGI: Why the new urology wing is a game-changer for North India" (Oct 12, 2025): Reporting on the acquisition of state-of-the-art medical technology and its impact on affordable healthcare. "Shortage of life-saving drugs: Inside the supply chain crisis at government pharmacies" (Dec 5, 2025): An investigative piece on the logistical hurdles affecting chronic patients in the tri-city area. 2. Education & Institutional Governance "Panjab University Senate Election: The battle for institutional autonomy" (Dec 18, 2025): In-depth coverage of the high-stakes internal elections and the friction between traditional governance and central reforms. "Research funding dip: How PU’s science departments are navigating the 2025 budget cuts" (Nov 5, 2025): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing researchers and the impact on India's global academic ranking. 3. Art, Culture & Heritage "Le Corbusier’s legacy in peril: The struggle to preserve Chandigarh’s Capitol Complex" (Dec 22, 2025): A feature on the conservation efforts and the tension between urban modernization and UNESCO heritage status. "Chandigarh Art District: How street murals are reclaiming the city’s grey walls" (Oct 30, 2025): A cultural profile of the local artists transforming the aesthetic of the "City Beautiful." Signature Style Parul is known for her empathetic lens, often centering her stories on the individuals affected by policy—whether it is a student navigating university red tape or a patient seeking care. She possesses a unique ability to translate dense administrative notifications into actionable information for the public. Her long-standing beat experience makes her a trusted source for "inside-track" developments within Chandigarh’s most guarded institutions. X (Twitter): @parul_express ... Read More

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