Draft:Prashna (film)

Prashna (Marathi: प्रश्न ; translation: Question) is a Indian short film directed by Santosh Ram. . The film focuses on the lives of sugarcane cutters in a rural Indian village and the educational challenges faced by their children. It particularly explores these issues through the lens of a young woman's curiosity and the barriers that prevent her from accessing quality education.

Plot
"Prashna" revolves around Ganga and her husband Rajkumar, who work as seasonal sugarcane-cutting laborers on a contract basis. Their work requires them to migrate frequently. Their 10-year-old son, Ganesh, has to accompany them since there is no one to care for him at home. This situation disrupts Ganesh's educational progress, causing him to miss six months of school every year. Despite having only a third-grade education, Ganga finds a way to ensure Ganesh's education continues uninterrupted. She also takes this opportunity to further her own learning. The film highlights her journey as she navigates these obstacles and seeks answers to her questions.

Themes
Educational Inequality: The film sheds light on the disparity in educational opportunities between urban and rural areas, emphasising the struggles of students in rural India. Curiosity and Learning: It portrays the natural curiosity of children and their desire to learn, contrasting it with the limitations imposed by their environment. Social Issues: "Prashna" delves into broader social issues such as gender bias and economic constraints that affect the education of children in rural India.

Production
The film was shot on location in a rural village to capture the authentic setting and challenges faced by the characters. Santosh Ram's use of non-professional actors and natural settings enhances the film's realism and emotional impact.

Reception
"Prashna" has been well-received for its impactful storytelling and realistic portrayal of rural education. The film has been screened at various national and international film festivals, earning praise for its insightful commentary on educational inequality and the strong performances of its cast. Festival Jury has praised "Prashna" for its poignant depiction of the struggles faced by sugar cutting Labourers in rural India. The film's realistic approach and its focus on Ganga's quest for knowledge have been particularly noted for their emotional depth and social relevance.

Official Selection Festivals
1) Shortlisted For Filmfare Awards 2020

2) Shortlisted For Maharashtra Women Commission Film Contest 2020 3) Pimpri Chinchwad International Short Film Festival 2020. 4) Sprouting Seed International Short Film Festival 2020.   5) Roshani International Short Film Festival Aurangabad 2020. 6) 3rd Vintage International Film Festival 2020. 7) Indic Film Utsav, Hyderabad, 2020. 8) Bettiah International Film Festival 2020.

9) Nawada International Film Festival 2020.   10) Vishwarang International Film Festival 2020. 11) 22nd Madurai Short and Documentary Film Festival 2020 12) 2nd Shades International Film Festival 2020. 13) ICA – International Cultural Artifact Film Festival 2020. 14) 4th Anna Bhau Sathe International Film Festival 2021. 15) 9th Chennai International Documentary and Short Film Festival 2021. 16) Ujjaini Short Film Festival 2021. 17) 14th SiGNS Film Festival Kerala 2021. 18) 6th Bengal International Short Film Festival 2021 (India). 19) The Filmingo International Short Film Festival 2020 ( Mumbai ) . 20) 8th Siliguri Short and Documentary Film Festival 2021. 21) Suchitra Suvarna Chalanachitrotsava 2021, Bengaluru. 22) 4th South Asian Short Film Festival, 2021. 23) The 13Th Edition Of International Documentary And Short Film Festival Of Kerala(IDSFFK) 2021 24) UNICEF Innocenti Film Festival 2021 Florence, Italy. 25) London Migration Film Festival 2021, London. 26) Gandhara Independent Film Festival, Karachi, Pakistan.

27) 12th Educational Film Festival EDUKINO, WARSAW, POLAND 28) The 19th Kalpanirjhar International Short Fiction Film Festival, Kolkata.

29) Smita Patil International Film Festival 2021, Pune.

30) Marathi International Film Festival (MIFF) 2021, USA. 31) Ma Ta Short Film Festival 2022, Mumbai

32) 7th Human Screen Festival TUNISIE 2022

33) 8th Kolkata People's Film Festival Kolkata 2022.

34) 7th edition of: HUMAN SCREEN FESTIVAL TUNISIE 2022,

35) 2nd Annual India Film Fest of Salento oTricase, Salento South Italy

36) 9th Zero Plus International Film Festival, the city of Tyumen (Russia) 2022.