‘Independence’ by Neeraj Ghaywan is a short film featuring a little street girl who is trying to sell Indian national flags on the streets. The very presence of the tricolor on the screen suggests that it is Independence Day. The director does not explicitly tell us so and that places him at par with a great poet because a poet always tries to see how many words he can do without.
The little girl is obviously poor, but she is too proud to accept charity the way other street children do. She don’t want to beg, but would rather be independent. She will choose her own destiny. She will earn for herself. The close up shot of her face in which you can see in her eyes the reflection of another street child who has accepted alms from a passerby, says it all.
The little girl sells a flag to a watchman who hands over a coin to her. His master who approaches the big gate in his car drops a coin in her hand but refuses to accept the flag, disrespectfully waving his hand. She pleads with him but to no avail. She places the flag on the front glass of the car and walks away, her head held high, but not before giving the man in the car a sharp and angry look. He had not only insulted her by treating her like a beggar, but he had insulted his own country. The shaking of his hand was symbolic of the disrespect to the nation, which some of us harbor in our minds. We are just not concerned. August 15? Independence Day?? What’s the big deal??? But beware! Beware of the look in her eyes. She is the future. She is our hope.
She sees a group of girls in school uniform, playing with a ball. Again, the close up shot of her face clearly reveals how eager she is to play with them. But she knows all too well that it is impossible. She does not go and request the girls to allow her to play with them. She doesn’t want to risk a rejection; she starts playing using pebbles all by herself. Who can prevent her from doing that? All of a sudden there is a heavy downpour and the rain drops give her company. The girl looks up in joy and enjoys the rain to the maximum. The rain is something that is common for her and the other girls. Let it wash away the poverty and the backwardness. Nobody can take the little joy from her. Nobody can prevent her from getting wet in the rain. That is ‘Independence’ for her.
The flags in her hand get wet and the colors start to bleed. For a moment she becomes worried but she quickly overcomes the disappointment. She clutches the wet coins in her hand and the rain brings back the smile to her face. It is only the hard earned coins which will give her financial independence. And the rain will always be there to wash away her sweat.
‘Independence’ is a well directed short film with some crisp editing. The background music adds to the effect. The girl who plays the lead role has an expressive face as is revealed from the close-ups. All in all, a brilliant short film which utilizes every available second to the maximum extent possible.
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