Kids with Cams

The kids squirmed with anticipated pain, when the needles pricked into their tender brown skin. The results came out within a week. As the movie rolled on, I waited with baited breath; I couldn't heave but a sigh of relief when I heard Zana say 'Good News, they are all negative."

It is a sober moonlit night, with the garden sprinklers humming away quietly, without a worldly care. Inspite of being a Friday night, I am at my pad watching this splendid documentary titled 'Born into Brothels'. The movie is based on kids born in North Calcutta's red-light districts, and captures the moments of rejections, failure, and success involved in the director's efforts to rehabilitate these kids, with an intended view towards a better future for them.

The movie introduces the viewer to 8-year old Puja, whose mom is a sex-worker. The mother's primary concern is to bang in the green whichever way it is given. Kochi, Shanti, Avijit, Gour, Suchitra and Manik are Puja's friends who share similar fate of being born into a brothel. Hats off to British-born photographer, Zana Briski and her co-director, Ross Kauffman, for making a movie that held my attention for an entirety of 85 minutes.

Zana is also the founder of the non-profit organization, 'Kids with Cameras'. She does a splendid job of getting the kids to channel their interests into photography, thereby offering them a different perspective of life. Most kids who are born into brothels, often regard their lives as 'normal'; and finally succumb to the viscious circle of flesh trade. Without proper education, it is impossible to get the kids to realize that they have an option.

It is mighty pleasing to see the kids embrace photography with both hands that soon get busy clicking away day-to-day activities. Zana teaches them the basic 'how-to's of photography, and the tricks of the trade.The kids turn out to be naturals at photography. Their brilliant photography is a feast for the eyes. It is not surprising to see how these kids pick up photography with a lot of enthusiasm. The kids have been exposed to a hard life up until now, and thereby find it relieving to express themselves through their photos.

Zana's main aim is to get these kids a proper education. The kids have to realize that they could lead a better life with good schooling. The mission workers manage to admit every kid into a boarding school. The schools are concerned about them being HIV +ve. The negative blood tests are very comforting.

Zana helps them organize photo exhibitions to raise funds towards their benefit, and also manages to get Avijit, one of the kids, to Amsterdam for an international photography workshop. Before going to Amsterdam, Avijit has his concerns about school life, but gets convinced finally.

The kids' smiles, mischief, laughter, all bundled into a neat movie is a viewers' delights, and sheer pleasure for the heart. Of the kids shown in the picture above, only 2 of 'em continue to be in school, the rest of 'em have been withdrawn from school by their illiterate parents or relatives for purposes unknown, but none too good.

It just makes one realize that money accumulated serves no purpose if it's not being put to good use. There are millions of kids out there in similar situations or worse, and it is really sad that not much is being done. We would love to help and do social service, but the real question is, can we afford to? This is indeed a selfish line of thought, but take a moment over here to think really deep.

And while you are at it, do take a moment to appreciate their pictures at their website. You will realize that my pictures do not capture an iota when compared to what these kids have to show you through the pictures clicked by their innocence.