Screening Room:
Yellow
Kawaad / Door
Kawaad dives deep into the psyche of a 8 year old girl Swathi, as she navigates her life through a dysfunctional household, located in a slum in today’s Mumbai. Swathi and her emotionally scarred mother Chaaya are dominated by her abusive father Bajya in their decaying family. Amidst the recurring violence and the resultant trauma, to which her mother is subjected to, the 8 year old silently struggles with her own fears and nightmares. On a fateful night, the little girl Swati, a mute onlooker up until now, makes a decisive choice for her mother and herself. Swathi's decision could either liberate them forever from her abusive father or could endanger both their lives. Kawaad is a sincere attempt to explore the impression left by domestic violence on children. The film also looks at how children could dig deeper into their own little reservoirs of resilience hidden within to come up with their own solutions when they encounter a dire situation early on in life.
Statement
Kawaad aims to create social change by bringing attention to the often-unseen emotional impact of domestic violence on children. Through Swathi’s silent observations and inner world, the film encourages audiences to look beyond physical abuse and understand the psychological scars carried by young minds. By creating empathy and initiating conversations around domestic violence, childhood trauma, and emotional resilience, the film hopes to inspire greater awareness, sensitivity, and responsibility within families and society towards protecting children and breaking cycles of violence.
Cast and Crew
DOP - Mohamed Riyal E 2. Editors - Suraj Nagaonkar, Ravish Pathan 3. Sound Design - Suraj Nagaonkar 4. Primary Cast - Raima Ghosh, Sivadarshika S, Sarang Surendran