What we usually do when the lively, energetic, and brilliant 'little one' of our family all of a sudden becomes gloomy, inactive and dull? Well, conventionally most of the time we lay the blame on the sufferer only. But we can't even presume that the harrowing reality is throwing dust in our eyes. We can't even think that our little dear one can be a victim of child s abuse or child molestation and his or her changing behavior can be the sign of post- traumatic stress disorder. Yes, the menacing truth is that, more than 40 million children subjected to abuse each year. Not only that, as per report today in every 10 seconds a child is abused or raped. Director Yash Revar has beautifully highlighted this catastrophic side of the society in his short film Bhog.
Story goes like this very enthusiastic and full of life Swayam is a brilliant student in his class. Friendly nature Swayam did not take much time to mingle with the new uncle, his father's friend. Circumspectly uncle became one of his best friends. The innocent boy could not perceive the coarse and brutish nature of his dear uncle. Swayam's parent sent him his Uncle's home for study. That day in the empty house Swayam was sexually abused by his UNCLE. Terribly frightened Swayam could not inform his parents about the incident. That dirty incident engulfed him like a nightmare. Swayam becomes lifeless, inert and dull as he can't come out from the trauma.
Our society has a mind set – up with the fact that only teenage girls and young women can be victim of sexual harassment. But nowadays the picture has slightly changed; at this time our little girls as well as boys are also can be a victim.
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Criminal Victimization Survey, there were 346,830 reported rapes or sexual assaults of persons 12 years or younger and at least 62,939 cases of child sexual abuse last year and this figure is increasing daily. According to child psychiatrists, children can't comprehend sexual harassment properly and that's why the culprits make these innocents as their target.
When a movie exhibits this type of overriding topic it becomes a message to the people. And in our current situation, we need directors like Yash Revar even more. It's really difficult for a child to understand such an issue to perform the role. In 'Bhog' the child has performed extraordinarily, though in this case maximum credit goes to the director Yash Revar.
The last scene of the short film, where Swayam protests and saves a girl child from molestation undoubtedly is a master stroke. So not only ourselves, we need to conscious our children too. Then only will this kind of short film acquire its real tribute.
Arindam Bhunia/Cult Critic/CICFF
