Everyone must remember the tragic case of Nirbhaya, the unfortunate young lady violently murdered after sexual assault in a Delhi bus on 16 December 2012. Even after seven years and stricter laws, sadly the similar incidents keep happening in different form and locations. Whether it is the availability of smart phones and internet allowing anyone to access obscene websites propagating wrong images of women or increase in migration of modern professional skilled women for employment or college girls wearing skimpy dresses we are not sure. Therefore, self-defence for women from young age is not just benefit but a must.
Diya The Wonder Girl is a film based upon a true story of a courageous girl played by Diya Patel herself who at the tender age of 5 was about to be abducted by a watchman of the building where she lived. Thankfully she was rescued at the right moment by her parents and neighbours.
As I arrived at my friend’s house in the western suburb of Juhu in Mumbai, I was whisked off to Bandra multiplex cinema where preview of the film took place in 45-seater GeM theatre on 15/12/2019. Producer Dinesh Singhal was waiting at the entrance to greet the audience. He said it was a low budget film highlighting the struggles of middle-class family from an Ahmedabad suburb in Gujarat. It was wonderful to see my host Yashesh inviting his friends from all walks of life to help promote the venture and also seek response. The film started sharp at 17:00 with a reasonably quiet audience (Indian style) with occasional phone ringing and promptly answered by a busy guy working out his cement deliveries!
Media plays important part these days and the story commenced with phobia Diya’s mother has since the attempted kidnap of her daughter. Any headline concerning child abuse makes her think of ways to empower and give her daughter self defence lessons. Against all odds such as stigma of giving birth to a baby girl rather than a boy she wants to fight tradition. Taunts from the in-laws makes her resolve even stronger and she enrols Diya in a Taekwondo academy with an ill tempered but good coach. In lieu of Karate this would seem more appropriate in proportion to her worries about a possible attack. The story moves on with the young parents trying to balance with their responsibility to ensure that school homework is done in time and continue
Diya’s after school self-defense classes. The clash between school performance and Taekwondo, interplay with emotions of both sets of Diya’s grandparents who do not want the hapless 9 year old granddaughter with threat of sustaining injury added with attitude of some neighbours who want to mollycoddle rather than empower their children, backdrop of Ahmedabad public areas add to the gritty authenticity of the screenplay. Post interval, our heroine strives to go back to the academy after loosing a contest as she can’t take any more taunts. Her mindset develops positively with consistent encouragement from her mother and now wining is the only option.
Unlike in UK, cinema intervals are a must in India. Servings of samosas, loud talking, few Hi’s and hellos soon morphed in a mini social event before everyone settled down to watch the second half. I leave the rest of the details for you to watch but the rapturous applause at the end was proof enough that the film will be well received. I certainly liked its new idea, fresh and convincing.
Outside, a little girl came to thank the producer saying she wants to be like Diya and she will tell all her friends to watch the film. Few others including a school principal wanted to book a show for her pupils. The film seeks to promote equality from an early age for boys and girls, especially girls in the art of self defense. Hope is, there will be more wonder girls like Diya to fight the baddies. The producer picked up the story from a small newspaper headline and sheer efforts to make a neat film without does of pointless songs all prove his passion to bring the story not only to Gujarati audience but the rest of the communities.
The title itself is a wonder and inspiring enough for many ordinary families who are most vulnerable due to the localities they live in to spread-head such initiatives.
Film Review by DESH PREMI
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