In this film A LIVE, filmmaker Harsh Vardhan Singh presents the stories of acid attack survivors in India, highlighting the crucial atrocities that women in the society undergo. The attackers are not just men with revenge on their minds for unrequited feelings but even closest family members and relatives. These young women are heroes in their own right as they relive those moments which completely altered their lives. They have anger against their perpetrators as they narrate how the society is still not ready to acknowledge the severity of this crime.
Their narratives are those of survival, of picking up the broken pieces and recreating life after something so horrific as an acid attack, of reliving it with full jest and love the fate that the society had condemned as worse than death. They share in the video their little hopes and joys, things as common as owning new smart phones and going on walks. But without the veil of shame. They talk of facing their acid attackers and giving a thumbs down to them, of showcasing that true beauty is inherent and some cheap and easily available liquid cannot destroy it. Their message is simple to not just embrace life as it comes, but to live it to the fullest without any hesitation. Theirs is a real life example of the undying human spirit, the true will to live. Go ahead and live their stories through their voices.
Acid Attacks
Acid attacks are a form of abuse, primarily against women. The crime is perpetrated in many parts of the world, but particularly prevalent in South Asia. Acid Survivors Trust International notes approximately 300 reported cases each year in India, but the true amount could be as much as 1,000 as many cases go unreported.
About the Filmmaker
Submitted by Harsh Vardhan Singh
– Independent Filmmaker, Paper Weight Entertainment.
– Shorts Films screened at various Film Festivals including the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2010, Tiburon International Film Festival, Jeevika: Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival, Pocket Films, YourStory Indiepreneur, RoyalStag LargeShort Films, YES! I am the Change Social Filmmaking Challenge etc.
– Films and Video Production Services & Advertising Consultancy for Clients like TheBetterIndia.com, SocialCops, Webenza India Pvt Ltd, Dogsee Chew, Rode Microphones, Sudhanshu Mehta Foundation, Bonito Designs, Nitesh Estates, Titan elevate, DTDC, Ittisa Digital Media, Plan India, Aishwarya Trust, Mister Tikku, XOLO Smartphones, Mahindra Rise etc.
– Featured on various print/online/TV broadcast media like CNN-IBN, The Statesman, Being Human Foundation, YourStory.com, Global Citizen’s Global Poverty Project, Community Channel UK, MTV Indies, Axis Bank “My Idea of Progress”, IMDb, Wildcraft, Biz Asia & Asian Image, Best Ads, Exchange4Media.com, Kulzy, Youth ki Awaaz, LifeBeyondNumbers.com, Afaqs!, RED FM, Indian Express, inshorts, India Today etc.
– Finalist Short Film “Awaaz” at Global 360 Filmmaking Challenge by Media Trust UK partners with Cannes Chimera & Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, hosted by BBC Newsreader Tina Daheley.
– Mentor, Hurtwood Prize Winner Music Video “Called On” for Irish Band Hudson Taylor.
– Top 20 Scriptwriter, Mumbai Mantra Sundance Institute Screenwriters Lab 2012.
– Shortlist NFDC Screenwriters Lab 2015 (Romance).
– ‘Go Beyond’ & Behind-The-Scenes held 21st Position/1191 Short Films at MyRodeReel 2015 International Short Film Competition.
– 3rd Winner, Indiepreneur Film Festival by YourStory.com for “Puneet Pahuja: It’s never too late”.
– Winner, Best Documentary Award (EduDoc) at Jeevika 2015: 12th Asia Livelihood Documentary Festival for “Sylvester Bhaiya”.
– Guest Author at Exchange4Media, LifeBeyondNumbers.com, YouthKiAwaaz.com.
9 comments
What a beautiful film! It broke my heart and inspired me both at the same time… great work Harsh!
Thank You Ankita for the beautiful words 🙂
The issue of women becoming victims of acid attacks is as much an emotional issue as it is a social one. Ideally the acid attacks should cause a lot of outrage that should result in stricter laws to rein in the perpetrators but sadly we seem to have become emotionally numb. What this video documentary presents us with is that we can no longer afford to ignore the social evil of acid attacks as it breaks the victims emotionally and then when the culprit is let off with a few minor punishment is where we should take a stand and let the law makers heard and also create an awareness among ourselves to be more sensitive towards the plight of these brave women.
Heart rending. Kudos to you for compiling these stories
Heard so much about acid attacks in the news but it’s really great someone not only highlighting this issue but also motivating the guys who suffered the attacks .
This small documentary motivates me to start afresh after a low phase . Each story portrayed here is inspiring in one way or other .
Hats off to the guys who thought of such a sensitive issue in making documentary at so young age .keep it up .You are surely going to go a long way …
Wow! Really inspiring!
#StoAcidAttack
Thumbs up to paper weight entertainment.
A huge respect to all of you . Good work Harsh Bhaiya and Team (Y) .
Wow !!!! Thats really inspiring…. And about the film maker… He is the best mentor I have come across till now. Great work brother !!!!
Thank you for your courage and light!