Each year, 12 million girls are married before the age of 18. That’s 23 girls every minute. In three small villages in Rajasthan, a non-profit organization is trying to change this through football. In these villages, there are 200 teenage girls playing and training regularly. What sets them apart is that almost all of them are child brides. The film explores their sisterhood and journey as they gain confidence, independence, and agency to stand up to the patriarchy and say no to child marriage. Many have fought to get their marriages annulled. What the future holds for these little girls, nobody knows. But for now, they are in charge, they are confident, and they love kicking balls! The movie is directed by Mumbai based director and writer Vijayeta Kumar.
Kumar has been an assistant to award-winning director Pamela Rooks; and has also styled A.R. Rahman and Priyanka Chopra for the Oscars, magazine covers, and more. She makes short films, branded content, and music videos. Her first short film, Blouse, won the Best Short Film award at the New York Indian Film Festival. Her latest short, Sunny Side Upar, is now available on Netflix. This film is also one of the first films in India that had an all-women crew. She also made a six-part series on women start-up founders called She Builds for National Geographic and Disney Hotstar.
The documentary is produced by Oscar nominated Guneet Monga.
In an interview with THE WEEK, the director opens up on the movie:
How did the story come to you?
Ajmer is my hometown. A few years back, I was there and saw girls playing football in my old school. I got curious because the school did not have women's football. And that's how I found out who they were and their story, and the great work being done by Mahila Jan Adhikar Samiti to stop child marriage through football.
How easy/difficult was it to get the subjects on board?
It wasn't easy initially as people are wary of the camera and also conscious of how we will tell their story. But once we built a rapport with the girls and the NGO we became friends and they allowed us into their world with love and warmth.
The issue of child marriages is extremely complicated. For instance, child-mothers die during childbirth as they don't seek medical care. Were there any such stories you came across which might not be part of the final narrative?
The film is about young girls who are fighting back not just against child marriage but also patriarchy in general. Football has helped them find the self-confidence and assertiveness to stand up for themselves. They are well aware of why child marriage is bad, and this is how they are fighting it. And NGOs like Mahila Jan Adhikar Samiti are doing great work in helping them through it.
Sports, besides the escape that is, could be a metaphor for much else. How do you view it?
I agree. Sports go beyond what is obvious. It becomes a way of life and teaches you so much as I saw with the girls in the documentary. They have a sisterhood, great camaraderie and now are able to stand their ground and refuse to get married or pursue education and careers too.
Has life for the girls changed after their story was out?
I found them at a time when they had changed so much about their lives by themselves. Tackling their way out of forced child marriages, poverty and caste oppression by playing football and fighting for their right to study. And that's what I found inspiring and fascinating.
These girls- are they still in their marriages or not. If yes, how have new balances been created while they discover themselves?
It's a mixed bag. Fighting something like this isn't so easy and simple. Change doesn't happen overnight. A lot of them have refused to go to the marital home. Some have got their marriages annulled too. But a few have had to get married under family pressure and despite that have asserted their right to continue their education and even keep playing football.
What was the most important revelation you had when listening to their stories?
They were in a remote part of the country, going about their rebellion and fighting the patriarchy, caste oppression and their right to go to school. It's an exploration of everyday feminism, unbelievable courage, that's so inspiring for everyone to watch.
What are you working on next?
A slice-of-life feature film.
