THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Childhood plays a pivotal role in the making of an individual. Several factors contribute to how one is mentored. In a scenario where a surge in criminal tendency is found among kids, Moosha (The Crucible), a 36-minute short film pans camera on three major elements; family, society and education, which pave the way for the character formation of a child. The plot revolves around the pertinent theme of child labour prevalent in society. The third filmy venture of South Urban Resource Centre (URC) is scripted and directed by K Swaminathan, a teacher at the government high school, Kalady.The plot revolves around the life of a twelve-year-old boy, Selvan, who happens to come to the city from Tamil Nadu in search of a job. He finally finds one in a bakery unit, where he encounters hard labour. The director arrived at the theme from a real life incident that shook the city two years ago when a boy, aged 16 who was working for a bakery unit for more than two years, murdered two people. “When the police brought him to the place to collect evidence, the locals hurled everything from stones to buckets at him. In reality, such children bear their sorrows silently while watching their counterparts enjoying around. Therefore, through this film we aim to make society aware of the hardships suffered by them,” says Swaminathan.The five-day film camp conducted at the Government High School, Kalady, laid the foundation for the making of the film. The shooting was completed in three days in April at the Government High School, Pappanamcode; Juvenile home, Poojapura and at Poonthura and Thaliyal. Prakash Rana, who bagged the award for the best cinematographer in the educational film festival in 2011, has cranked the camera. Students from standard five to eight have acted in the film.The lead characters are played by Akhilraj (St Antony’s High School) and Suhail Imthias (Government higher secondary school, Kamaleswaram). The cast also includes Arathi U R (Government U P S, Poojapura), Mahima M B (Cottonhill School), Manoj M (AMHS,Thirumala), Muhammed Asim, Azharudeen, Suhaib Imthias (Govt UPS, Ambalathara), Anjali (PSM UPS, Muttathara), Sophira (St Philomenas H S, Poonthura). Besides, students from nearly 30 schools under the URC, students from Pappanamcode school, teachers and trainers of BRC, Kallar Rajan and Gopika R Nair have donned greasepaint for the film.Other short films by URC, ‘The Friendship’ (2010) and ‘Neha Ente Koottukari’ (Neha my friend, 2011) have bagged several awards in numerous festivals including the state children’s educational film festival. ‘Moosha’ is getting ready to be premiered in the city in June.
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