Aisa Hi Hota Hai, a short film created by Ayesha Chundrigar confabulating topics that are often not explicitly discussed....
short film
Tired of seeing the same old TV shows and genres? Pakistani web short films are a breath of fresh air. They cover everything from nostalgia and love to horror, mystery, and comedy. Since they don’t require long episodes or numerous installments to be successful, creators and artists have more freedom to be creative and take risks.
Aisa Hi Hota Hai, a short film created by Ayesha Chundrigar confabulating topics that are often not explicitly discussed. Common conversations, experiences and occurrences that are present in most desi households are portrayed realistically, gracefully yet bitterly.
As soon as Ayesha Chundrigar’s name is mentioned, the first thought in anyone’s mind is ACF and animals, which in fact is true, but for her to move onto story-telling and visual media was surprising to many. The film, starring Sania Saeed, Kulsoom Aftab, Mariya Syed, and Sameer Nadeem Alam, is a poignant portrayal of a non-existent support system, victim blaming and character assassination that is rampant in our society when it comes to sexual assault. It touches on an extremely important ongoing issue of peer pressure that most young teenagers are affected by in some way or the other. The film offers an impactful message that resonates with audiences far beyond its narrative confines, revolving around the aftermath of sexual violence for the survivors and the people around them, the fatal consequences of shunning, shaming and shutting them out. The short film exposes the stark reality of the society’s treatment of sexual abuse victims through words and actions that might not even be deliberate and pushes us to confront our own complicity in perpetuating this cycle of suffering.
A tale of gossip, innocence, and the haunting consequences of judgment and a wake-up call for compassion. The dialogues painstakingly hit home, the choice of words and the manner they are spoken with allows the viewer to be fully immersed in it and it seemed almost too real. Conversations we have most probably heard in our real lives too.
Ayesha fearlessly confronts the plight of victims through a touching and captivating story that questions established societal standards, cultivating empathy in its audience. By highlighting the repercussions of our personal actions and language, both as individuals and as a collective, it inspires us to construct a kinder and more supportive world. The direction by Marina Khan and Ayesha’s writing breathe vitality into this touching narrative, making it essential viewing for all, as it stands as a poignant reminder that the path to change starts with recognising the necessity for holding wrongdoers accountable and acknowledging the suffering of victims of sexual abuse, while also promoting a more compassionate society.
- You! desk
