Abhimanyu – Reeling the Real
Harish Iyer, who was the trigger point, for Abhimanyu, sends in his post on the movie Abhimanyu and invites investors to invest in the film.
There came a child with night in his eyes and dew in his voice… The sly twinkle was hard to miss. As I looked at him, he appeared unnerved. So unnerved, that I wondered why. When my eyes met his, he face shrunk in shame. It was then that I made a conniving rush to the corner and checked my wallet for I presumed I had been robbed by him. I named the look in his eyes “guilt”. I wondered if this child was up to something. My mind was clouded with the smog of suspicion. The feeling was something uncomfortable. That something left an indelible mark in my mind. Years passed, I never met the child again.
Some 20 odd years later, I got a forward email about this boy who as a child had braved sex abuse and that this story served as a trigger for the making of a film on the cause. In curiosity I googled the boy and found his facebook profile. I went through his pics and was aghast to see, that this was the same boy who had intrigued me and lived with me for so many years in thought.
The child is me. And the “I“is the world. The “I“ here is an account of the many people that I have encountered in life, who were presumptuous but never ever verified with me about the villainy of my stillness… only to meet me decades later to brazenly declare that they missed or misconstrued the twinkle of my eyes then. Many offered worthless sympathies, and many showered advices. None of any constructive help. I dealt with my inner voice positively and singly, and dealt with complexes of being abused for 11 long years by a man. My sexuality was shattered. I ambled on a path unknown, but did in the end reach my true finding. My true finding of sexuality. I realized I am gay, and today am happy and gay. And that contrary to what the world may again presume, it had nothing to do with my history of abuse.
Since I understand the language of silence, I chose to speak up sometimes too often, sometimes too very shamelessly for the cause. And realized that there were many, many who lived in the closet. Call it the “sailing in the same boat” syndrome. There were many who let off their well-kept secrets and thereby set free the lump in their heart.
Meeting The Dreamseller
Speaking out was important, for the myth that “this happens to my neighbor not in my house ” was quite universal. One of my interviews that appeared in a leading daily evoked quite a response. I linked it up on facebook for my world to see. Onir checked the link; he was in Germany then and wrote to me about his intent of making a film on the issue. I shared with him, notes and anecdotes. Around a month later, we met up in Bombay at his office and discussed the issue. In the meantime he had already interviewed several other survivors and social altruists as a part of his own in-depth research on the issue. He shared with me a draft of the script and generously sought my inputs. He understood the character so well that it amazed me. Guess that’s what’s called empathy. Something that every director needs to feel with the subject and the character. Something that Onir is blessed with in truck loads.
Cinema that’s “Ours”
Step one was the script and the research… the next was to arrange for the finance about which Onir was very optimistic about. Who would fund a short film on a very “pheeka” and “masalaless” premise of Child Abuse? What are the returns like? Many would wonder… but Onir was steadfast in his focus. We set up a facebook page and started accepting funds from random strangers. “Co own Abhimanyu” said Onir… and people across the world responded to his call. So much so that barely within a month people started flocking facebook and the number of fans of the page increased exponentially. Onir thought of some benefits for the co owners. Depending on the amount of contribution, they could either find a mention in the movie, or they could get their money returned after release, or they could get proportionate share in profits. Not only this, actors, technicians, volunteers flocked in to stake their claim and made it truly a group venture… Actors, technical specialists, all pledged their support, some in cash, some in service.. some sponsored travel for the crew, some sponsored food. Our online spaces grew too, we were on twitter, YouTube , kwippy etc,.. in no time with active online campaigning with regular updates and voracious blogging on www.iamabhimanyu.blogspot.com the Abhimanyu crossed the 10 lakh (INR) mark from around 17 cities across the world. NGOs like Arpan , Enfold and Tulir partnered which the film futher ensuring that the film is just a beginning of the road for a clear dialogue with no hugger-mugger. For the contributor it gives the benefit of Tax Benefits . The association with NGOs ensures that the film is not a flame, but a Flintstone that is in the quest of several other Flintstones to collide with , and ignite many flames in many quarters … so that no parent, no friend, no teacher and no child dwells in the world unwise myth that “ignorance is bliss”.
Even you could own Abhimanyu.
It’s good that our teachers, parents, brothers, sisters, uncles all are revered in Indian culture. But there is a big “if” here… what if one of these elements of respect disenchants and dissects the innocence of the child. What if, the child is touched where he shouldn’t have been, what if he grows off his age before his friends.. what if he makes love with his quiet and refuses to acknowledge the din in his heart… what if the child finds no one to speak and when he does speak he is blamed. Come on world! Make your presumptions like you always do. “The child would probably be marooned in his closet.” “The child would be a drug addict”… No, none of the above is true. The child is me… And I have left the past in the past and live my present in the present… with no gloomy looms because of my past dooms. I am one of the many abhimanyu’s in this world. Just by speaking and sharing, I personally have managed to reach out to several other survivors… and to tell them that life isn’t a sad morbid tale… life could be a steamy brisky fable where you choose the life you wish to lead, and be the lord of your story.
You could be a part of this never ending journey. Never ending because as long as man exists, the demon in him would too. The words rape, child abuse and molestation would never be history but would encroach on “His” Story and “Her” story.
Understand that there are some evils which we may think are unavoidable, but let’s also understand that even if one of the revered relations mentioned above is alerted and alarmed, much could be averted.. a live could be saved. Wish you be a part of the process and not a mere witness.
You could Co-Own Abhimanyu and help this story be told by contributing, Visit us to know more
Blog : www.IamAbhimanyu.blogspot.com
Twitter : www.twitter.com/iamabhimanyu
Facebook : www.facebook.com/iamabhimanyu
Even if not financially, you could help by spreading the word. You could get your blogs to adopt Abhimanyu by embedding the “I Am Abhimanyu” video on your blogs. If you are associated with institutes, you could screen the “I Am Abhimanyu” video in your institutes and thus get colleges and college festivals to adopt Abhimanyu.
Picture of the screening of the fund raiser film at Wilson college, Bombay
This story needs to be told. It needs to be seen by many, and so will be seen.
Cast of Abhimanyu: Sanjay Suri in and as Abhimanyu , Anurag Kashyap, Radhika Apte, Shernaz Patel, Rahul Bose.
Accolades :
Onir’s Abhimanyu and Omar has won Triangle Media Global Award Nominations basis the script under the category of “Best Educational Movie”
The film Abhimanyu is the first of 5 films that are bound together with the common thread of fear. While Abhimanyu draws inspiration from my true story of incestuous child abuse, the other films also deal with real life incidences, Omar exposes the nexus between Male Commercial Sex Workers and the police who used to extort money under the pretext of section 377. These 5 short films of around 20 mins would be released singly and also in a compiled format tentatively titled “I Am”
Harish Iyer
These 5 films have a theme which a quest of the “me”. The “Me” that is beyond any “reason”.
I am, because of noting… I am going to be nothing…
I am just because I am.
(Trivia: Shyam Benegal touched upon the incest in Mandi, where the Smita Patil commits suicide on discovering that the lover boy she has eloped with is her brother)
[PFC Note to readers: Readers are advised to use their discretion and personal research in answering the calls inviting finance for a movie by any PFC author, blogger or guest blogger. Unless explicitly specified, PFC is not involved with financing or promoting calls for financing for any movie or movies, including the movie blogged under the current post]
Tags: Abhimanyu
Anurag Kashyap
Abhay Deol
Dibakar Banerjee
Hansal Mehta
Khalid Mohamed
Kundan Shah
Anish Kuruvilla
Jaideep Verma
Manish Gupta
Navdeep Singh
Bhavani Iyer
D. Santosh
Onir
Ashvin Kumar
Ramu Ramanathan
Sudhir Mishra
Pankaj Advani
Revathy
Saurabh Shukla
Shilpa Shukla
Sujoy Ghosh
Suparn Verma
Santosh Sivan
Shashank Ghosh
Shivajee
Pavan Kaul
Partho Sen-Gupta
Prroshant Naryannan
Sam Langoria
Satish Kasetty
Hey dude…You are a true cinema lover…and it shows in the post, that you are doing your bit by giving him a opt platform to connect real people, who may be interested in it.
There are very few film makers who dare to make a movie on such (social or sensitive) subject, cos most of the time it bounces back in theatres. There are many movies made on some sensitive subjects, have done great in international film festivals, but not a commercial success.
We learn about them when they are been picked up by some international film association, etc. Chances are that we may have seen a poster at a theatre near us…but we never realized that it was such a good story, till the time it’s not been acknowledged by some foreign film body. Why the hell do we need a “screened in xyz international film festival” tag for some of the best films of our country? Why we are not appreciating it at the first place.
I am sure there are many movie on such sensitive subjects would have been shelved cos of financial issues.
I wish all the luck to Harish…and kudos to you for bringing this here.
~Ashu Bhai MAPRM Wale
Thanks Ashu. This is the least we can do. Lend our voice. If we convince even 1 person to either see the movie or come out against the abuse, this post has achieved its objective. Am glad to have you by me on this.
Yes! ashubhai its really great that Magik took it upon him to stand up for the cause and give this initiative an audience of cinephilics.
Thank you Magik! you are so true to your screen name.
Jus doin my bit. this endevour needs to be appreciated.
@ Magik: anytime for the indian cinema. You, Me, all the fellow PFCites, and every cinema lovers will always do wudevr they can do for bringing any such things infront of the world…
I love My India.
~Ashu Bhai MAPRM Wale.
This is true passion for cinema. Unflinching and not motivated by any commercial pursuits. I ll promote the film in all ways I can.
thanks bro. am sure we can create some buzz via BFS too!
This is certainly very emotional- Harish hats off to you & Onir and all others who are part of this venture- for believing in it.
And Magik- what do I say? this is simply a wonderful gesture from your end, my friend.
well actually sethu, a big thanks to oz bhai for making this possible. Viva PFC!
Thanks Sethumadhavan for your wishes
Hey Magik,
Commendable job, dude. I suggest put up a wiki page on this movie and connect it to Onir’s page (which is too epigrammatic).
The word will spread in no time.
ps: I also see there’s no wiki page on PFC (it has been deleted) but more than 500 wiki page links/ refers to articles on PFC!
thanks for the suggestion ~uh~™ . really appreciate it. shall see how to take it from here.
What the heck- I have created a page for PFC on wiki.
Wikipedia will not allow a PFC page to be posted. The page you created is slated for deletion, and we ask that you allow the Wiki Admins to delete the page.
While we appreciate the fact that you took the initiative to create a Wiki, PFC does not meet the guidelines for article inclusion, and it causes problems for us later when we try to add or update Wikipedia links as they believe that we are spammers. In the past, there have been many attempts to create a PFC entry by PFC readers, so any page that is created is automatically slated for deletion.
There will come a time when we will create a page, but it has to be at the right time with the right content that meets the Wikipedia guidelines.
Thank you for placing this page up, we really appreciate the initiative the PFC community shows in supporting us! It is only a shame that Wikipedia does not believe that we meet the guidelines for inclusion!
point taken t! but sounds very wtf. well of course you would know better. awaiting the right time. hope it happens soon.
dude kudos to you for truly utilizing the creative space provided by cinema for such a noble cause…this is really a path breaking step in Indian cinema.
A very moving and touching post, incest is an issue, that has been kept under covers by us, refusing to even acknowledge or discuss it. So many young children’s lives have been destroyed or scarred on this way. Promote this article, Wiki is a start. Also creating Fan Pages on FB for the movie, could help a lot. Good work Magik.
thanks ratnakar. the cause is indeed grave, which we collectively, can make a difference to. if cinema is the answer, so be it. appreciate your suggestions.
Thanks for your suggestions Ratnakar. Abhimanyu has a Fan Page on Facebook with close to 1000 Fans. Join us.
http://www.facebook.com/iamabhimanyu
Harish, I just read your blog and I have no shame in admitting that by the end of it, I was in tears. I am sorry. That is all I can say. The only way to leave our past behind is to move forward. A big hug for you.
bro, magik ki jhappi to u 2!
Magiks post has started doin the magik. Just a small suggestion. Copy the content of the post, and mail it to the people whom you think is worth sending, requesting them to mail it further. I am sure it will not take more than a minute to do so. Hey I have already done that !!
~Ashu Bhai MAPRM wale
am doin it too! thanks ashu!
I have a two year old daughter. The newspaper reports makes my blood boil to no end to read about child rapes and even sodomizing of children.
Good initiative Magik! We’ll all spread the word.
thats real nice of you vinay! really appreciate.
Its harsh but true. More power to people like Onir who open their eyes wide on an issue that any other would batter an eyelids.
Harish…Thank you for such a lovely post. And thanks for the courage … for talking about what happened to you openly… i appreciate your support to the film. Everytime i see the cat in the film I think of you….. you will know when u see the film….thank you buddy
Kudos to Magik and PFC! Its a sensitive issue which needs to be told and thank goodness it is Onir who has taken it up and am sure he will do justice.
Onir will certainly do justice, i agree. And yes, it was Oz Bhai, who really made this possible.
Thank you Cherish for your trust
hi magik, I really appreciate ur effort. good going bro. I always appreciated Onir’s work bt this is a very special cause, I hope other filmmakers sud also take this kindda step. My best wishes are with all the ppl who r involved in this project and especiall magik to take innitiative to spread the word.
Magik has actually done a great thing by offering his space and taking it upon him to get this published in this revered space.
Im glad that the messenger gets his due. 
way to go Magik. 
@Storyteller…. Thanks for your message
Tough read….But Harish, its amazing that you have come out thru al this…truly amazing….
Magik, nice init….Onir’s taken it up, then it cant go off track….’ll spread the word…
thanks a lot Arthi. tiny drops maketh an ocean.
Thanks Arthi!
yes with onir in the drivers seat.. the film cant falter.
@Arthi… Thanks for the confidence. gives me so much more energy. and yes MAGIC…THANK YOU
This is commendable, Magik (for taking it up), Harish (For coming out in the open) and Onir (For giving it a face and voice) -I surely will pass on the word, luck and wishes
Good luck to everyone involved and let’s also use cinema for meaningful things, apart from our regular Friday entertainment!!
thanks arati. i totally agree to the more meaningful usage of cinema. viva passion!
besides magik, Onir and Me… look into the mirror and thank my friend.
for you would play a vital role in taking this forward… virally. Thank you… and hugs Arati 
@Arati…Thanks
Qarati – very well said. Lets spread the word as far as possible. I am sure many of us would be a part of some or the other social networking sites (Movie groups in particular)…just take some time from our busy schedule and paste the content in your respective blogs, social networking sites, groups, etc.
i am sure together we can and we will be able to make a change.
Hi Ashu,
Abhimanyu has active presence on Facebook and Twitter
Connect with us and spread the word.
http://facebook.com/iamabhimanyu
http://twitter.com/iamabhimanyu
Thanks !!
Commendable effort Magik.. You, Harish Iyer and Onir are really working for noble cause. This is one of those issue which is always reamined under the carpet and has to be come out. You are absolutely right that “if we convince even 1 person to either see the movie or come out against the abuse, this post has achieved its objective” and i believe after reading it people will come out. I will definately ciculate this post. Apart from sexual abuse, rape, i think another big child abuse in India is use of violance by parents over them and regular fights between parents. I personally know some people of disturbed childhood bcoz of vioalance and parental fights. Some time these children are low on confidence and are unable to take decisions. They cant even grow properly and is always imprinted on thier minds. Some of them even ran from thier homes and got lost on dark roads. Many also got wraped in the web of drugs. I hope this could be beganning of new era for these kids and also for the adults with disturbed child hood. keep going…
every bit of the encouragement will help make this movie a success that it deserves to be. spread the word!
Male sexuality is often ignored. Boys are care takers, they dont need care… is the notion. This film would break that myth. thank you Akash
By the way, if any body comes out with such issue, i being a Delhi based lawyer is ready to provide all sort of legal help…
awesome. more power to you bro.
Thnks.. i am ready any time..
I receive a lot of such calls and emails everyday. All of it.. much later in stage. Thanks Akash for your offer, now I know whom to refer to if at all i get calls from children. :-) Thanks Mate!
Harish, if needed my email id is :
akashkaushik_25@yahoo.co.in
@Akash: Thats so nice of you akash. Hope that this post will have many such people coming forward for a noble cause.
~Ashu Bhai MAPRM Wale
Thnks.. Ashu Bhai MAPRM Wale and yes will come forward and more after watching the film..
hi magik, I really appreciate ur effort. good going bro. I always appreciated Onir’s work bt this is a very special cause, I hope other filmmakers sud also take this kindda step. My best wishes are with all the ppl who r involved in this project and especially magik to take innitiative to spread the word.
Magik,Harish-
Check out the link below.its a review of a new tamil movie which tackles child abuse/pedophilia and I’ve dedicated the post to Abhimanyu.
will do whatever I can to spread the word about
Abhimanyu.
http://passionforcinema.com/achamundu-achamundu-%e2%80%93-where-fear-lurks/
bro, that was a very kind gesture. thanks a million.
We being such a huge country and a state of affairs so miserable. I hope some serious cinema like this might provide some enlightenment to the country and people here…
thats the need of the hour!
yes Prats that’s whats needed now. Enlightenment!
It’s hard to believe but it’s the Truth…good work!!!…it’s nice 2 see sum1 dng more than jst speaking about a cause..keep the gud work up
Thank you so much meeta, “WE” together could make a difference. Lets Spread the message virally on our blogs, webspaces, etc. The more the awareness. The more eyes on the film… the more the reach.
hi guys, what you are doing is really very very needful. victims like me will be able to come out in the open. i shall stay indebted to you all forever, if my parents will be able to understand me better, after watching this film. thanks.
hope this film helps bring sunshine in your life.
Hi Praveen,
Cinema is magical, it transports you to another era. I always maintain… If Cinema is a reflection of societical values .. Societical Values are also reflection of Cinema.
Things will change, and for the better.
An attempt is made with Abhimanyu. And we shall nurture it to fruitful completion. Together!
Hi Praveen..i hope this film may do wonders for you. Cinema can be called as mirror of our society, i still remember my cousin’s parents started understanding him better after watching taare zameen per and i think this happened with people and not only with my cousin after TZP. I hope the same will happen in your case and many others…
Wonderful initiative !!!
Thanks for the post…
thank you srikant!
thank you shrikant!
I am so glad you wrote on this. I do not see Onir writing on his films after Sorry Bhai. I think Harish too wrote. I am yet to check that.
I have known Harish for quite sometime now. In fact, Harish is the reason I got introduced to PFC. And Onir I got to know of late when he came to film the 1st part of the 5-series.
I wish everyone associated with this a great success. And thanks to you for this hearty post.
Thanks Mate.No, I have never written in passion for cinema. I had once submitted, long back, but guess that never got published.
(or did i miss it)
@Vee… so much of my time goes in coordinate and answering everyone funding and supporting the film on fb/blogs… and then work on the production/finance/direction aspect that i have found no time to write here…. but Harisha nd Magic have done a great job
Onir sir..pranam… waiting for abhimanyu to come and infact waiting for all of your film after My Brother Nikhil happened. By the way its a very courageous step taken by you to make Abhimanyu by getting funding from various sources.. Best of luck for abhimanyu
@Akash…:)Thanks buddy for ur wishes
Harish you are an inspiration to us all! You have risen, phoenix like, from the ashes of your childhood. We, in all our ignorance, grumble about our sad childhoods. But when we hear about the shattered innocence of childhoods such as yours, we despair for the fates of countless childhoods lost. I believe that for every Harish who gets portrayed in Abhimanyu there are tens of thousands of children whose tales of horror will never be told. They will wither in the darkness of abuse and neglect. Our great Indian culture allows parents to bury their disabled children neck-deep in sand for six hours on a day of solar eclipse. It also allows a motorcycle to be run over the hands of pre-teens. Our tradition of absolute subservience to elders in the family hides terrible secrets.
I am glad that you were able to come to terms with your sexual orientation (comparatively) early on and learnt to separate it from sexual abuse. I know that the man who will eventually win your heart will be one lucky man. Bless you Harish.
OMG, im touched. (let me wipe a fond tear.
) thanks sandeep.