An inconsolable loss
> A new documentary goes behind the headlines to reveal the heartbreak of a mother separated from her child
equality in her documentaries.
Some of her works included Mencari Kartika which is about a Muslim woman sentenced to six lashes of the rotan for consuming alcohol; Aku Siapa?, which deals with the issue of wearing a veil in Malaysia; and Ulama Perempuan which highlights female Islamic scholars in Indonesia.
For Dairi Untuk Prasana, Norhayati takes a more intimate approach, showing how a family has been torn apart, and how lives are jeopardised by what has transpired.
“My documentary is about the human [aspect of this] story,” she says. “No religion [should] separate a mother from her child.”
She has tremendous respect for Indira, adding that “she has never taught her two [older] children to hate their father”.
Norhayati points out that Indira has said that should she finally meet Prasana, she will not force Prasana to convert to Hinduism.
“She understands Prasana’s circumstance, and she believes religion is not something you can force on another person, even if she is your child.
“All Indira wants is to see her daughter. I am humbled by her big heart.”
Norhayati also interviewed Prasana’s two older siblings, as well as Prasana’s grandmother.
She says: “Indira has done a good job in raising mature children.”
Norhayati recalls how Tevi described the moment her father grabbed Prasana from her arms and disappeared.
“Tevi felt responsible for what had happened, and could not stop feeling guilty,” Norhayati says.
Meanwhile, Karan believes everything can be resolved amicably if both parties sit down and discuss things calmly.
Norhayati adds: “[Prasana’s] grandmother is a humorous person, and the audience will love her.
“Her [biggest] wish is to see Prasana before she dies.”
Dairi Untuk Prasana