NEW DELHI: ‘Tears in Khushi’ is a movie about an adventurous 4-year-old girl in the milieu of the excitement of Cricket World Cup. Directed by Ravneet Kaur, it was filmed in New Delhi and Mumbai.
Based on happenings in the capital of India, New Delhi, ‘Tears in Khushi’ is a same day story which explores the cricket crazy environment in the capital from the interval of the cricket match between India Pakistan Semi Final, till India gets the victory.
There is a steep rise in nuclear families in urban areas. The film depicts a real life situation through the eyes of kids and grandparents. Khushi stays with her parents but shares a special bond with her grandfather. Due to some family issues she is separated from her grandfather.
A child never fears anything, it’s the innocence hidden in her that leads to victory no matter how difficult is the way. That’s what the film explores – how during the interval of this cricket semi-final the four year old girl, after rebelling with her mother, manages to meet her grandfather with whom she shares a special bond.
The movie also highlights the issue of discrimination against Blacks (Africans and South Americans). Indians discriminate against these people who are called “Negros.” Even several housing societies in Mumbai display boards saying, “Nigerians not allowed.”
In Bollywood movies also these people are shown in an unfavorable light. But for the first time, in ‘Tears in Khushi’, a Nigerian lady called ‘Shanghan’ is shown helping the main protagonist the four-year old Khushi.’
Several stereotypes about Blacks prevail in India like – the Blacks are man eating people; they are drug dealers or they are involved in all criminal activities. In this movie, other characters think that Shanghan is going to kill the girl ‘Khushi.’ In fact she treats the girl in a very friendly manner and even helps her.
Later, Shanghan tells about the discrimination she faces in India. She explains that she works here and this country provides her bread and butter, so how can she think anything bad about the country, specially the charge that she wanted to kill a child. She even explained that she treats India as her own country.
‘Olga’, a native of Nigeria, is cast in the movie as Shanghan. Even during the shooting, the local public and kids were continuously laughing at her. Kids teased her by shouting ‘Hapshi-Hapshi’. Though Olga could not understand Hindi but she could sense the attitude and went back to her makeup room.
‘Bhavya Anand’ – a resident of New Delhi was finalized for the role of Khushi after auditioning more than 50 girls.
India Post News Service
