What is the story of a child lost
(and found) on a railway platform? It is possible the child has run away from
his/her home for some reason. Every child ‘rescued’ from a railway platform has
a story to tell, sometimes real, other times bordering on fantasy. And yet in
every story, perhaps one cannot miss the ignoble tale of hundreds of children being
wronged by society at large.
Director: Prithvi Konanur
Film clip
Railway children (2016), the Kannada film, is a sensitive, yet matter-of-fact, rendering
of such an important subject. It presents many stories of railway children sans
any melodrama. It is as though the unfortunate children are coming in front of
you to be noticed whether you like it or not. The cruel circumstances in which
these children are strangulated can send a jitter in every caring adult.
Director Prithvi Konanur has
dealt with the subject quite efficiently and professionally. It is clear that
he does not want to make a spectacle out of the squalor of these lowly kids. He
seems also interested to go deeper into reasons why they run away from home.
While, most children who decide to run away do so for obvious reasons, there
may be a few others who run away unable to deal with certain existential
questions. The film even in the final frame strikes a deeper chord in the
hearts of the audience.
Hats off to the little jollu,
pappu and other ‘railway children’ who bring life into the characters by their
natural skills! The film makes one ponder deeper even after the images have
just passed by.
- Melwyn Pinto SJ
