Lights, camera, inclusion: Short films on disabilities and society

Three recently released short films from Chennai that make audiences understand disabilities

Film: Neeye Yaavumai

https://youtu.be/3wuefyrerDc?si=ej3LT-nNbCCrPgIK

Neeye Yaavumai (meaning ‘you are everything’ in Tamil) is a simple story many parents of children with disability will relate to: anxiety of the child not reaching developmental milestones, lack of social support from society and finding work-life balance with a special child.

What makes this film stand out is to see a special father coming forward to tell his own story and casting his family members as actors. Kolathur resident Sudhakar Natarajan, who has written, directed and acted in the short film, plays a disillusioned father of a seven-year-old with delayed speech (played by Jai, their able-bodied elder son).

Capturing the differences the couple face in parenting the child as well as the transformation taking place in Sudhakar shows the boldness, honesty, sincerity, and sensibility in making the film.

The documentary ends on a happy note that parenting a special child is challenging but rewarding if one “travels” with the child.

S. Hemavathi, who plays the mother, says their visits to therapy centres were depressing as most special parents, which includes them, had only to moan when a child does not meet its typical speech milestone. The film was an attempt to change that notion.