Born into Brothels

Just saw 'Born into Brothels'. The documentary by Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski, is the winner of the 77th annual Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. The documentary deals with the lives of several unforgettable children who live in the red light area of Kolkata, where their mothers work as prostitutes. Zana Briski, a New York based photographer, gives each of the children a camera and teaches them to look at the world with new eyes.

The documentary is a tribute to the resilient nature of the human spirit. The innocence of these children is heightened even further because of their poignant surroundings. This documentary is also a proof of the restorative power of art. It is thrilling to watch the children discover their artistic talents. This is coupled with the story of the director's effort to get these children into better surroundings. This also highlights how cruel the conditions facing these children and others like them really are. I was particularly surprised and disappointed by the apathy shown by the schools in accepting these wonderful kids.

The documentary affected me in a deeper way as I grew up in Kolkata. Also being able to understand the kids in their own language (Bengali) added to the overall effect.