Assamese director Biswajit Bora ‘God on the Balcony’ portrays a reality that we all are well accustomed to.
It depicts the common problem of poor infrastructure in rural areas of India limiting access to healthcare, means of livelihood and quality education.
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The movie is set in a village in Assam’s Majuli, where the infrastructure is deplorable.
The protagonist Khagen lives in this village along with his wife and daughter.
Khagen’s wife Numali is grievously injured in an attack by elephant, which is quite common in the area.
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Although Khagen carries his wife to the nearest health centre several kilometres away, she dies on being unable to access treatment as the centre was closed.
After a hearse driver refuses to carry the body, the protagonist his wife’s body on his bicycle and walks back home in the company of his daughter.
This heart-wrenching scene seems to have strung the cords of the viewers well.
“God on the Balcony” is scheduled to be screened at a few international film festivals this year.
In fact Bora won the best director award in the Indian language category at the Kolkata International Film Festival last year, a report stated.
The film was also screened at the International Film Festival of Kerala.
Noted stage actor from Delhi Harish Khanna has essayed the role of he protagonist.
Bora said that he had cast Khanna in this role for his ability to portray the calmness and pathos that the plot demanded.
While Pranami Bora has played the role of Numali, Porinandhi Jima Sultana has played her daughter in the film.
“My film is based on a news report of a similar incident in a village in Odisha. It really affected me a lot,” Biswajit Bora said.
‘God on the Balcony’ tries to depict how people continue to suffer due to apathy on the part of the government in addressing the local problems.
People in rural areas have to bear hardships due to lack of development.