Qaid - A Short Film by Aritra Sen - ft. Veera Jain
#QaidTheFilm
Brishti, a young woman, finds herself confined in a rented flat in an unfamiliar city, far from her hometown, during India's first COVID-19 lockdown. She hides her reality from her family and friends. Isolated and struggling to adapt, she faces daily challenges to meet her basic needs while also trying to manage her parents' medical requirements from a distance. The lockdown exacerbates her sense of helplessness and anxiety as she navigates this difficult situation alone. Witness Brishti's poignant journey and her struggle against the odds.
Screenplay, Cinematography and Direction- Aritra Sen
Concept- Rakhi Debnath
Editing- Himanshu Agarwal
Sound Design- Eshan Sharma
DI- Akash Mathur
Produced by- One Digital Entertainment
Cast- Veera Jain , Rajeshwari Sharma, Akash Mathur
, Kumar Abhishek , Ushri Guruji , Asif Guruji , Surajit Sinha and Goutam Sen
#QaidTheFilm
Brishti, a young woman, finds herself confined in a rented flat in an unfamiliar city, far from her hometown, during India's first COVID-19 lockdown. She hides her reality from her family and friends. Isolated and struggling to adapt, she faces daily challenges to meet her basic needs while also trying to manage her parents' medical requirements from a distance. The lockdown exacerbates her sense of helplessness and anxiety as she navigates this difficult situation alone. Witness Brishti's poignant journey and her struggle against the odds.
Screenplay, Cinematography and Direction- Aritra Sen
Concept- Rakhi Debnath
Editing- Himanshu Agarwal
Sound Design- Eshan Sharma
DI- Akash Mathur
Produced by- One Digital Entertainment
Cast- Veera Jain , Rajeshwari Sharma, Akash Mathur
, Kumar Abhishek , Ushri Guruji , Asif Guruji , Surajit Sinha and Goutam Sen
#QaidTheFilm
Transcript
00:00I will not let you go.
00:30Now, the lockdown is being implemented.
00:34In a way, this is a curfew.
00:39A few steps ahead of the public curfew.
00:45A little more strict than the public curfew.
01:00The lockdown will be lifted.
01:05Stay home.
01:10The virus will spread.
01:15Stay home.
01:20Stay home.
01:25Stay home.
02:00What did you do all day?
02:02Same thing.
02:03Calls and meetings all day.
02:06There's a lot of pressure at work.
02:08I thought you'd get some rest in the work from home.
02:13There's a lot more work in the work from home, Ma.
02:16And on top of that, I have to do the housework.
02:19You should have come when your roommate left.
02:23You could have worked from here.
02:24We could have used the Wi-Fi.
02:27Ma, she left before the lockdown.
02:31You worry too much.
02:33All alone in an unknown city.
02:36Ma, I'm absolutely fine.
02:38Don't worry.
02:40Okay, listen.
02:41Papa's medicines are over.
02:43And the doctor is looking for him.
02:45I'll call you back, Ma.
02:47Boss is calling right now.
02:53Old man!
02:54Old man!
02:56Uncle!
02:57Modi ji asked me to play the thali for a day.
03:01Why do you come every day?
03:10Hello.
03:11Yes, uncle.
03:12This is Prishti.
03:14Yes.
03:15Uncle, I had to sell the bed in the living room.
03:19And there's a wardrobe too.
03:21Actually, my roommate left.
03:23So, I can't do both the work.
03:25You said you know someone.
03:27So, can you please ask him?
03:30Yes.
03:32And uncle, sorry.
03:33There's a delay in the rent this time.
03:38Yes.
03:39Yes.
03:40Thank you.
03:51Thank you.
03:52Yes.
04:20Who is it?
04:22Aunty, hi.
04:23I'm Prishti.
04:24I live on the first floor.
04:26Yes, tell me.
04:27What happened?
04:28Aunty, I need some sugar.
04:31Actually, it's over at my house.
04:33And I can't even go out now.
04:37Oh, okay.
04:38Wait a minute.
04:40Hello.
04:41Hello.
04:43A girl has come from the lower floor.
04:45To ask for sugar.
04:47The bachelors who live there.
04:50What should I do?
04:52No, I didn't open the door.
04:54I saw it from the keyhole.
04:56Okay.
04:57Yes.
04:58Okay.
04:59Should I refuse?
05:22Then?
05:23Then what?
05:24There's an aunty upstairs.
05:25I got sugar from her today.
05:27Okay, on this pretext.
05:29Who lives in the building?
05:30And who doesn't?
05:31Did you find out today?
05:32You're right.
05:33Absolutely.
05:35Okay, it's important.
05:37We didn't talk about it that day.
05:39Send money for papa's medicines.
05:42He's been asking for it for 4-5 days.
05:45Yes, mom.
05:46I'll send it soon.
05:48Now tell papa not to think about it and increase his blood pressure.
05:53Okay, I'll hang up now.
05:56Okay, mom.
05:57Bye.
05:58Bye.
06:58Hello.
07:21Hello.
07:22Hi Raghav sir, how are you?
07:24Oh, hi Brishti.
07:26I'm good, I'm good.
07:27You called yesterday?
07:29Yes, sir.
07:30Actually, I called to check if there's any vacancy in your company.
07:34Sorry, Brishti.
07:35Markets are currently down.
07:37You know that, right?
07:38I must have told you last week if you remember
07:40that hiring is being frozen everywhere.
07:43Okay, sir.
07:44Actually, I'm learning new courses online to stay updated.
07:49Can I send you my updated resume?
07:52Oh, don't worry.
07:53I have it with me.
07:54If there's anything left, I'll definitely update you.
07:56Okay, bye.
07:57Yes, sir.
08:26Hello.
08:50Hello.
08:52Yes, uncle, there's no electricity in our house.
08:55I checked the heater box as well.
08:56Everything else is working.
08:58Only our house is switched off.
09:01Bill...
09:04Uncle, my roommate used to pay the bill.
09:06Maybe it's overdue.
09:09I'll check.
09:11Yes.
09:13Uncle, I told you that my salary hasn't come yet.
09:18As soon as it comes, I'll send you the rent.
09:21Yes.
09:23Yes.
09:24Okay, thank you.
09:41Happy birthday, Veeru.
09:42Thank you, Jai.
09:44What's this birthday cake?
09:46This is the only way to manage.
09:48Do you know that there's electricity in big cities as well?
09:52It's a long story.
09:54Let it be for now.
09:55Leave it.
09:56Okay, tell me more.
09:58What's this mess?
10:00Don't you have anything to eat?
10:02Oh, man.
10:03I have calls and meetings all day.
10:06Sometimes, I skip lunch.
10:10What?
10:11Why are you smiling?
10:12Nothing.
10:13Meeting, calls...
10:15You've grown up.
10:16Sometimes, I feel jealous of you.
10:18Of me?
10:19Why?
10:20There's a lot of free time now.
10:22The shop is also closed.
10:24So...
10:25I think a lot about other things as well.
10:27Really?
10:28Like what?
10:29I feel that I should have studied hard like you in college.
10:34You were a topper since childhood.
10:36You got a job at the right time in college.
10:39And you went to a big city.
10:41Everyone taunts me after seeing your example.
10:45You've become a big MNC engineer.
10:47I'm left behind.
10:50Can I cut this cake?
10:51Your crying will never end.
10:53Of course.
10:54Happy birthday to you.
10:57Happy birthday to you.
11:00Happy birthday to Veeru.
11:03Happy birthday to you.
11:17Happy birthday, Veeru.
11:47Happy birthday, Veeru.
12:17Happy birthday, Veeru.
12:47Hello.
12:48Yes, mom.
12:50I was in a meeting, mom.
12:52That's why I switched off my phone.
12:55Sorry, dear.
12:56I'm disturbing you.
12:58Dad has fever since last evening.
13:01It's not going down at all.
13:03I got him to the hospital yesterday out of fear.
13:07Come home soon.
13:08I can't do all this alone.
13:11I'll be back soon.
13:12I'll be back soon.
13:13I'll be back soon.
13:14I'll be back soon.
13:15Come home soon.
13:16I can't do all this alone.
13:19Mom.
13:20Mom, don't worry.
13:22Mom, don't worry at all.
13:25I'll be back as soon as possible.
13:28I'll make some arrangements.
13:29I'll be back soon, mom.
13:32Mom, take care of yourself and dad.
13:35Don't worry, mom.
13:37Everything will be fine.
13:39Hello.
13:40Mom.
13:41Mom.
13:46I want to be with you.
13:58I want to be with you.
14:03The number you are trying to call is currently not reachable, please try again later.
14:30The number you are trying to call is currently not reachable, please try again later.
14:59Brishti?
15:05Brishti?
15:17Hello?
15:19Brishti, what is he saying? Talk to him.
15:23Who?
15:24Hello, I am calling from the billing department of R.Tagore Hospital.
15:28Yes, tell me.
15:30The insurance documents that your mother had deposited, have expired in the month of March.
15:35Please send them the latest policy or deposit the cash.
15:39Otherwise, we will not be able to keep your father on ventilator support.
15:43Ventilator?
15:45Yes, his health has worsened further.
15:47You will have to deposit Rs. 26,490 immediately.
15:50Please talk to your mother once.
15:52Brishti, your father is not well.
15:55You have got your insurance renewed, right?
15:59Brishti, can you hear me?
16:02Mother, I will do something.
16:04Brishti?
16:06Mother?
16:22Brishti?
16:52Mother?
16:55Mother?
17:02Mother?
17:22Mother?
17:45You were a topper since childhood.
17:47You got a job in college at the right time.
17:50And went to a big city.
17:54Sorry Brishti, the markets are currently down.
17:58You have become a senior MNC engineer.
18:01Come soon.
18:02Otherwise, we will not be able to keep your father on ventilator support.
18:06Sorry Brishti, the markets are currently down.
18:09You have become a senior MNC engineer.
18:11Come soon.
18:12You have become a senior MNC engineer.
18:14Sorry Brishti, the markets are currently down.
18:17We will not be able to keep your father on ventilator support.
18:20You have got your insurance renewed, right?
18:44The reason I want to connect with you Brishti is because
18:47we are curating stories featuring people who have lost their lives,
18:50their families, their businesses in the pandemic.
18:53And put them together in social media.
18:55Look, I don't know what Shreyas told you about me.
18:59But you know, it's not that interesting.
19:01I mean, it's boring.
19:03A lot of people have suffered more than me.
19:06And my story is nothing compared to theirs.
19:10But it's your story, right?
19:12I mean, it's your story.
19:13Your story should not be compared to someone else's story or someone else's suffering.
19:17Right?
19:18Right.
19:19So, shall we begin?
19:20I will record this.
19:21Okay, so...
19:23In the beginning of the lockdown, my entire team was laid off.
19:27I didn't tell anyone.
19:30Neither to my parents, nor to my friends.
19:33I really thought that I will manage everything.
19:36And it's just a matter of a few weeks.
19:39I mean, it will be difficult to live alone in an unknown city.
19:42But it's okay, I will manage everything.
19:46I faced some difficulties.
19:48But I kept thinking that no, there are other people who are in more trouble than me.
19:54I was managing.
19:57But then one day, my father fell ill and he was hospitalized.
20:03I tried my best to go home, but I couldn't.
20:08And I lost my father.
20:12I didn't even see him before he...
20:16Along with my job, I lost my entire family's insurance.
20:21I was so heartbroken when I found out that I don't even have money to save my father.
20:29At that moment, I realized that I am such a big failure.
20:34I just wanted to kill myself.
20:36And I tied a dupatta around my neck.
20:40I was ready to hang myself from the fan.
20:43Maybe I would have done it, but...
20:52But I couldn't.
20:54Do you know why?
20:56Because there was an uncle of my son in my building.
21:00He used to play the thali everyday to encourage people.
21:04Old man!
21:05He used to say that everyone needs courage.
21:10I used to get very angry at him.
21:13But he used to remind me of my father.
21:17My father was just like that.
21:20He used to encourage everyone.
21:25But that day, when I decided that I just wanted to die,
21:29some people from the BMC came.
21:32And they were taking uncle to quarantine.
21:35Uncle was playing the thali even before he left.
21:38Can you imagine?
21:41It was just that moment.
21:44It's very funny and weird, but that's what saved my life.
21:53I realized that I couldn't save my father.
21:57But I still have more in me.
22:28Tomorrow, I'm finally going back home.
22:34And I don't know when I'll get a job or whether I'll get one or not.
22:40But I know that I'll finally be with my mom.
22:44That's all that matters, right?
22:57I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
23:00I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
23:03I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
23:06I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
23:09I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
23:12I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
23:15I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
23:18I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
23:21I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
23:25I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
23:29I know that I'll keep fighting and moving forward.
23:54I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
23:57I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
24:00I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
24:03I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
24:06I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
24:09I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
24:12I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
24:15I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
24:18I'm not afraid of anything anymore.
24:21TERA MANGALA MEDITATION MUSIC
24:24May You Be Happy