1.12.2015, DEHRADUN: Even as the world is gearing up to observe December 3 as the 'International Day of Persons with Disabilities' (IDPD), a group of 13 deaf and mute kids on a mission across the Himalayas are going to tell the world through their movie, The Silent Heroes, slated for a commercial release across India on December 11, that disability cannot stop people from dreaming and chasing the stars.
The stars in the movie are the school kids from city-based Bajaj Institute of Learning (BIL), who underwent intense training sessions with the help of schoolteachers and special educators to prepare them for their roles in the movie.
Speaking with TOI, Uttarakhand's own Mahesh Bhatt, the director of the movie, said, "This is the first time that real-life deaf kids will be portraying reel-life characters on such a big scale. I feel immensely proud of their feat. Even as the world is going to celebrate the IDPD, five of these deaf kids who are stars of my movie are presently on a tour to Punjab for the promotion of the movie."
"I wanted to show people that these differently-abled kids are not helpless or a burden to us. Being silent is not an impediment for them and they are still heroes, which prompted me to name the film — TheSilent Heroes," Bhatt added.
The film shot across picturesque locations in Uttarakhand shows the state's beauty before the disaster of 2013. It touches on a number of relevant and contemporary issues that include disability, social attitude towards the disabled, equal access, social inclusion, importance of search, rescue, first-aid and disaster awareness.
"Being deaf cannot stop us from achieving our dreams. We are like other kids and have innate strength which people must realize at least on IDPD or after watching us in the movie," said Khwaish Gupta, an excited deaf and mute student who has acted in the movie, using sign-language which her mother Bhanu Gupta, a special educator at BIL, interpreted for this correspondent.
Another student, Ashish Chauhan, a class X student of BIL who also acted in the movie, said, "There is nothing a deaf individual can't do. Through the movie wherein deaf kids go on a tough mountaineering expedition, we intend to show it to the world that being deaf is not a disability. In fact, differently-abled kids have a more sensitive side and can definitely chase their dreams."
The deaf kids stated that instead of observing IDPD, there needs to be more opportunities for the individuals from the differently-abled community and they should be encouraged in taking up arts, drama, dance, theatre and even research work.
The movie is supported by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre (DMMC).
Piyoosh Rautela, executive director, DMMC Uttarakhand, who is also the executive producer of the movie, said, "DMMC Uttarakhand supported this endeavour because we wanted to spread the message that it is time that the society changed its opinions about their disability and treated them with dignity and honour they deserve."
"Being deaf cannot stop us from achieving our dreams. We are like other kids and have innate strength which people must realize at least on IDPD or after watching us in the movie," said Khwaish Gupta, an excited deaf and mute student who has acted in the movie, using sign-language which her mother Bhanu Gupta, a special educator at BIL, interpreted for this correspondent.
Another student, Ashish Chauhan, a class X student of BIL who also acted in the movie, said, "There is nothing a deaf individual can't do. Through the movie wherein deaf kids go on a tough mountaineering expedition, we intend to show it to the world that being deaf is not a disability. In fact, differently-abled kids have a more sensitive side and can definitely chase their dreams."
The deaf kids stated that instead of observing IDPD, there needs to be more opportunities for the individuals from the differently-abled community and they should be encouraged in taking up arts, drama, dance, theatre and even research work.
The movie is supported by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre (DMMC).
Piyoosh Rautela, executive director, DMMC Uttarakhand, who is also the executive producer of the movie, said, "DMMC Uttarakhand supported this endeavour because we wanted to spread the message that it is time that the society changed its opinions about their disability and treated them with dignity and honour they deserve."
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