Short Films
Rajesh has made several short films and documentaries on human trafficking, HIV/AIDS and communal riots that support the media advocacy initiatives of the United Nations and NGOs, national and international. His most recent film for the United Nations, One Life, No Price for social sensitization against human trafficking was well received by civil society organizations internationally. Amitabh Bachchan, Preity Zinta and John Abraham appear in the film as spokespersons for the cause.
The Sacred Face, a short film on child sexual abuse, sent the audience back home unsettled at its screening in Hyderabad. Rajesh himself writes the screenplays for most of his documentaries.
One life no price
9 mins,
English (2007)
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Touchriver Pictures present One Life, No Price, a gripping docu-fiction presented by Bollywood actors John Abraham and Priety Zinta with a compelling concluding exhortation by the legendary Amitabh Bachchan.
The film introduces the tragedy of human trafficking in South Asia with a special focus on India where thousands of young girls and boys are into modern-day slavery.
It features six independent stories: There is Radha (12) from Andhra Pradesh, who is sold into a brothel in Mumbai by her ‘husband’. There is Jyothi (14) from Jharkand who is auctioned off as domestic worker in Delhi. We watch Rahul (8) and Rajib (10) from Kolkata as they are trafficked as labourers in a brick factory. Annamol (16) and Bina (18) from Kerala are duped into sexual servitude under the guise of ‘ayurvedic massage’. Tina (20) from Shillong dreams of a better life in Mumbai but is forced to perform at dancing bars. Finally, Nagesh (7) from Tamil Nadu is offered job with a tourist guide and ends up being exploited by sex tourists.
The modus operandi adopted by traffickers is vivdly portrayed in the film. The vulnerability of these children as young adults caused by their different socio-economic conditions is clearly depicted and the consequences of this vulnerability are explained.
The film concludes with hope in the form of responses from various government, non-government and international agencies such as UN on a wide spectrum of anti-trafficking interventions following rescue such as providing education, counselling, shelter, training and employment for the rehabilitation of rescued victims.
One Life, No Price provides a compelling look into the dark, inhuman, and exploitative world of human trafficking and invites each one of us to join the growing response against human trafficking.
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