CHOTU

Bronze Spike
TitleCHOTU
BrandMY CHOICES FOUNDATION - NGO
Product / ServiceNGO / CHILD LABOUR
CategoryA03. Casting
EntrantGOOD MORNING Mumbai, INDIA
Idea Creation DENTSU IMPACT Gurgaon, INDIA
Media Placement DENTSU IMPACT Gurgaon, INDIA
PR DENTSU IMPACT Gurgaon, INDIA
Production GOOD MORNING Mumbai, INDIA
Post Production GOOD MORNING Mumbai, INDIA

Credits

Name Company Position
Shashanka Chaturvedi Good Morning Films Executive Producer / Director
Vikram Karla Good Morning Films Executive Producer
Robin D'Cruz Good Morning Films Executive Producer / Producer
Shashanka Chaturvedi Good Morning Films Executive Producer / Director
Shashanka Chaturvedi Good Morning Films Executive Producer / Director

Write a short summary of what happens in the film.

This film takes us along on a day in the life of these little boys who are forced to work, instead of doing what boys their age should be doing – studying, playing, and living their childhood in a safe environment. This is the stark, unflinching reality the film attempts to bring to our screens and sear into our consciousness. Starting from the time when dawn breaks and Chotu is kicked awake, to sifting through heaps of garbage working as a ragpicker, bullied into cleaning dishes in a middle-class home, serving tea to rickshaw drivers, watching others go to school, right to evening responsibilities like washing a bus windscreen, and ending at night on the most heart wrenching scene of all – him being offered to a man in a brothel. As we watch, we see the dehumanising of Chotu, his objectification, and the utter helplessness that defines his life.

Cultural / Context information for the jury

Nelson Mandela once said, “There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” Children are our future, pride and new vision; and that is exactly what Children’s day celebrates. It's a day dedicated to increase awareness about their welfare. Yet, look around and you will witness that the reality is far from the truth. Their basic rights, education, dignity, hope and childhood is snatched away every single day. Currently, millions of child labourers in India are employed in homes, factories, construction sites and elsewhere. Popularly referred to as 'Chotu', these children deal with menial, backbreaking and dangerous jobs. This year, Children’s Day fell on the same day as Diwali. Despite the fact that we still have a long way to go to vanquish the evil of child labour, we were intently celebrating the victory of good over evil this Diwali.

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