Newborns debuts in cyber space

After winning acclaim in international festivals, the short film hits social media

The International Women’s Day witnessed release of a short film Newborns— a visual poetry project based on testimonials and performances by acidattack survivors. The film was released on social media by Stop Acid Attack campaigners in the country and a special screening of the film was organised at the Sheroes Hangout in Lucknow.

Through the film, acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal and her friends, human rights activists and other survivors of acid violence, look back at the society. What does beauty mean to survivors of acid violence? What does beauty mean to people in their environment? How do the two world-views interact? What do concepts of ‘fear’, ‘power’, ‘innocence’ and ‘beauty’ mean to the society? These are some questions raised in the film.

“Newborns premiered at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and has made rounds of many festivals and human rights events, winning awards and top honours for its powerful storytelling and innovative technique. The film won the German Star Award for Best Documentary at the Indisches Film Festival Stuttgart,” said Alok Dixit, acid attack crusader Laxmi’s partner.

The film also won the best short documentary award at the Mumbai Women’s International Film Festival and the Delhi Shorts International Film Festival (jury prize). At the London Asian Film Festival, the film won both the audience and the jury award for best short film. The film was also given the CARTel Select Special Mention for Innovation Award in Los Angeles.

Even the title ‘Newborns’ presents itself through survivor, Laxmi Agarwal’s conversations with several other acid attack survivors, who call their recovery a rebirth. The film has been directed by Megha Ramaswamy and voices the stories and emotions of survivors and has a message for the society.

During the making of the film, Ramaswamy started a nationwide initiative called the Spot of Shame campaign that aims to generate public awareness around the issue of acid-attack violence and to terminate the recurrence of such attacks. In association with Stop Acid Attacks, a Delhi-based NGO, Spot of Shame entails marking ‘spots’ in the city where women have been attacked with acid in broad daylight.

Acid attack survivors during film screening at Sheroes Hangout

Laxmi in short film Newborns