Pardaa

"Curtains" or "Pardaa" should be on the windows or doors. But I think the reality is at a variance. The truth is, there is a hidden curtain or "parda" over every woman in this world. Today also SHE has to face an unseen impediment in every way of her progress. We raise our voice for female empowerment but hardly a few believe it from bottom of their heart and that is why at this time also women are bounded to present themselves for the pleasure of others in exchange for money. Director Kajri Babbar has brilliantly represented this phenomenon in her CICFF award-winning short film PARDAA (CURTAIN).

"Pardaa" is a story of very talented and highly educated Indian-Muslim girl Shakeena who lives in UK for her higher studies. Her performance gets a round of applause by her faculties. But the clapping suppresses before her misfortune. Shakeena's father is in ventilation and as her younger brother has died, she is the only earning member of her family. For additional money, she does a part-time job in MacDonald's. The story moves faster when her family demands her large amount of money in overnight. The ill-fated poor girl had no choice but to sacrifice her religious morals and accept the offer of the strip-club manager to dance in a Kiki party. In that party, Shakeena is abused by her landlord and in that night only she is thrown away from her rented house. Not only that her landlord also files a false complaint against her to the police.

What our religion teaches us? What are our religious morals? No religion provides a difference between Man and Woman; we only have created that contemptible offense. In this so called modern age also women are treated as a medium of pleasure and amusement. Even women are mentally tortured by those double-dealing fanatic persons. This movie is a stark reminder that our society even in this digital age still lives in a conceited veil of discrimination and apathy towards women.

Director Kajri Babbar has perfectly picturized such a daring story line. The film runs for 16 minutes which is neither too long nor too short for a short film but to my sheer astonishment, I felt a certain set of emotions throughout its run time. All the actors did their best which has taken the film in triumph. Screenplay, editing was absolutely perfect. After ending also audience will have a curiosity about what will happen next? And that has made the film a success. "Pardaa" should not only be withdrawn from women, "Pardaa" must be taken away from the way of thinking of our society and if that happens that will be the best reward to the film.

Arindam Bhunia/Cult Critic/CICFF