[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Mixed whispers ]
[ Chanting in foreign language ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Singing in foreign language ]
[ Mixed chatter ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Female voice: [ Narrating ] IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE
TO PHOTOGRAPH IN THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT.
EVERYONE IS TERRIFIED OF THE CAMERA,
AND THEY'RE FRIGHTENED OF BEING FOUND OUT.
EVERYTHING IS ILLEGAL.
IT'S A WHOLE SEPARATE SOCIETY WITHIN ITSELF.
I MEAN, YOU JUST WALK DOWN THAT ONE LANE
AND IT'S ANOTHER WORLD.
I KNEW I COULDN'T DO IT AS A VISITOR.
I WANTED TO STAY WITH THEM,
LIVE WITH THEM AND UNDERSTAND THEIR LIVES.
AND OF COURSE, AS SOON AS I ENTERED THE BROTHELS,
I MET THE CHILDREN.
[ Chatter of play ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Narrator: THE BROTHELS ARE FILLED WITH CHILDREN,
THEY'RE EVERYWHERE.
AND THEY WERE SO CURIOUS.
THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WOMAN HAD COME
AND WHAT I WAS DOING THERE.
Woman: GREAT.
Narrator: THEY WERE ALL OVER ME,
AND I WOULD PLAY WITH THEM AND TAKE THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS
AND THEY WOULD TAKE MINE.
THEY WANTED TO LEARN HOW TO USE THE CAMERA.
THAT'S WHEN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT TO TEACH THEM
AND TO SEE THIS WORLD THROUGH THEIR EYES.
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Mixed shouting ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Kochi:
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Woman: WHEN YOU HOLD THE CAMERA,
TAKE YOUR TIME TO LOOK.
SO DON'T JUST GO... LIKE THIS.
IF IT'S NOT RIGHT HERE,
I'LL MOVE A LITTLE BIT
AND MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IN THE WHOLE SQUARE LOOKS GOOD,
AND THEN I'LL TAKE THE PICTURE.
SO JUST DO IT MORE SLOWLY.
SO I WANT HER TO LOOK.
Man: [ Translating ]
Tapasi:
Woman:
Tapasi:
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Narrator: PEOPLE ASK ME WHY AM I IN INDIA,
WHY DO I COME AND DO THIS WORK.
THERE'S NO RATIONAL, LOGICAL REASON WHY I DO THIS,
BUT I FEEL VERY CONNECTED TO THE WOMEN,
AND NOW, THEIR CHILDREN.
Woman: OKAY, DOES SHE LIKE THIS ONE?
SHE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SAY WHY SHE LIKES A PHOTO
OR WHY SHE DOESN'T LIKE IT.
SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO AGREE WITH ANYBODY.
Translator: [ In foreign language ]
Translator: IT'S JUST ONE HEAD STICKING OUT.
[ Chuckles ]
Woman: YOU KNOW WHAT?
SHE'S RIGHT, IT'S ONE HEAD STICKING OUT.
THAT'S WHY I LIKE IT
AND THAT'S WHY SHE DOESN'T LIKE IT.
Translator: [ In foreign language ]
Kochi:
[ Chatter in foreign language ]
Kochi:
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Zana: THIS PICTURE'S FUNNY TO ME.
MAYBE IT'S JUST BECAUSE I'M A WESTERNER,
BUT THEY LOOK LIKE AN OLD MARRIED COUPLE HOLDING THEIR TWINS.
Zana: IT'S A FUNNY PHOTO
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S NOT TRUE.
Man:
[ Chatter in foreign language ]
Manik:
Shanti:
[ Chatter of play ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Wailing ]
[ Babbling ]
Kochi:
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Zana: [ Narrating ] KOCHI IS VERY, VERY SHY AND DEMURE.
SO IF SOMEBODY IS GOING TO FORCE HER INTO PROSTITUTION,
SHE'S NOT GOING TO SAY "NO".
SHE'S NEVER SAID "NO" IN HER LIFE.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO HER VERY SOON.
THE CHILDREN ASK ME FOR HELP.
THEY ASK FOR IT ALL THE TIME.
AND IT'S HEARTBREAKING.
I MEAN, THERE'S SO LITTLE I CAN DO.
ALL I CAN DO IS TRY.
Grandmother:
Man:
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Singing in foreign language ]
[ Blowing ]
[ Mixed chatter ]
Gour:
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Zana: YOU SHOT TWO ROLLS
OF FILM, WHICH WAS VERY GOOD.
BUT THE PICTURES ALL CAME OUT BLANK,
WHICH WAS NOT VERY GOOD.
YOU... BECAUSE YOU WENT OUT AT NIGHT, RIGHT?
YOU SHOULD KNOW BY NOW
THAT YOU CAN'T SHOOT AT NIGHT
WITHOUT A FLASH.
[ In foreign language ]
Zana: SHE'S REALLY GOOD
AT PHOTOGRAPHING ON THE STREET.
AND NO ONE'S REALLY DONE THAT IN HER NEIGHBOURHOOD,
Man: MM-HM. LIKE, OUTSIDE HER HOUSE.
Zana: AND SHE'S VERY BOLD.
TELL HER YOU KNOW HOW PEOPLE GET ANGRY ON THE STREET,
BUT SHE'S SO BOLD THAT SHE GETS AWAY WITH IT.
SHE'S ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE IN THE CLASS.
Translator:
SHE SAYS
NO ONE GETS ANGRY AT HER.
YEAH, BECAUSE SHE'S VERY STRONG. SHOCKING.
Zana: [ Narrating ] THE GREAT-GRANDMOTHER'S A PROSTITUTE,
THE GRANDMOTHER'S A PROSTITUTE, THE MOTHER'S A PROSTITUTE,
BUT THEY HAVE BETTER SURROUNDINGS.
IT'S A BRAHMAN FAMILY, THEY'RE VERY SORT OF REGAL,
BECAUSE SHE EATS WELL, SHE'S DRESSED WELL,
SHE'S NOT OBVIOUSLY POOR,
BUT SHE'S HEADING FOR PROSTITUTION.
[ Whistling ]
[ Squawking of bird ]
Puja:
Translator:
SHE NEVER LISTENS TO HER MOM.
Translator: SHE'S SAYING,
"NO, MY MOM IS LYING."
"GO AND ASK MY GRANDMOTHER."
Gour:
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ In foreign language ]
I KNOW, BUT JUST BECAUSE IT'S YOUR CAMERA
DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S YOUR PHOTO.
A COMPOSITION MEANS HOW YOU PUT SHAPES INTO THE BOX,
THE LINES OF A PICTURE.
THESE ARE ALL VERY, VERY GOOD COMPOSITIONS.
YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON AROUND.
THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION IN THIS PICTURE.
THERE'S LAYERS OF PEOPLE
IN THE FOREGROUND, MIDDLE, BACK.
AND IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPH.
Zana: SUCHITRA.
Translator:
Gour:
Translator:
NO.
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Mixed chatter ]
Zana: [ Narrating ] ONE OF THE GIRLS
WAS ALREADY MARRIED OFF AT AGE 11.
ANOTHER ONE WAS FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION, AGE 14.
THESE WERE MY STUDENTS.
THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO OPPORTUNITY WITHOUT EDUCATION.
THE QUESTION IS, CAN I FIND A SCHOOL,
A GOOD SCHOOL THAT WILL TAKE KIDS THAT ARE...
CHILDREN OF PROSTITUTES?
Zana: I AM TOTALLY INDEPENDENT.
I'VE BEEN LIVING AND WORKING
IN THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT
IN NORTH CALCUTTA FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
WHICH STREET, RED LIGHT DISTRICT?
RAMAGANA SONOGACHI.
OH, YOU'VE BEEN LIVING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS?
ON AND OFF, YEAH. SO I'VE BEEN TEACHING...
WELL, I'VE BEEN... BASICALLY, I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER
AND I'VE BEEN PHOTOGRAPHING THE LIVES OF THE WOMEN,
AND I GOT VERY CLOSE TO THE CHILDREN
AND I STARTED TEACHING THEM
PHOTOGRAPHY TWO YEARS AGO.
AND THERE'S ONE GROUP THAT I'M VERY CLOSE TO
AND NOW I'M TRYING TO GET THEM OUT OF THE BROTHELS,
TRYING TO FIND A SCHOOL...
GOOD SCHOOLS FOR THEM, BUT THE THING IS,
I'M REALLY LOOKING FOR A BOARDING SCHOOL
BECAUSE OTHERWISE THEY GO BACK TO THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT
AND THEN, I MEAN...
ONE OF THE GIRLS WAS ALREADY FORCED INTO PROSTITUTION.
THESE KIDS WANT TO BE OUT OF THERE.
ARE THERE ANY BOARDING SCHOOLS THAT WOULD TAKE THEM?
'CAUSE I FOUND THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO DEAL
WITH CHILDREN OF SEX WORKERS.
NO PLACE IS THE RIGHT PLACE.
NOBODY WILL TAKE THEM, THAT'S THE PROBLEM.
WHO WILL TAKE THEM?
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Gour:
Translator:
Avijit:
Woman:
Zana: I LOVE THIS.
BECAUSE IT'S A SELF-PORTRAIT,
BUT YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE STREET.
YOU CAN SEE THE ENVIRONMENT WHERE HE IS.
AND HE'S JUST GOT SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF PICTURES
ON THIS ONE CONTACT SHEET.
I MEAN, THE DETAILS HERE,
WINDOWS AND SHUTTERS AND WIRES.
SO MANY DIFFERENT ANGLES AND THINGS IN THE FOREGROUND
AND THE BACKGROUND AND MEN SLEEPING
AND WALKING AND EVERYTHING.
JUST A VERY, VERY GOOD CONTACT SHEET.
Avijit:
[ In foreign language ]
Avijit:
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Mixed shouting ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Puja:
[ In foreign language ]
Man:
ONE MINUTE! ONE MINUTE.
EK MINUTE, EK MINUTE, EK MINUTE.
COULD YOU JUST ASK EVERYONE IF THEY'VE GOT THEIR CAMERAS?
'CAUSE I DON'T SEE THEM ALL.
Children: [ Shouting ] OKAY. LET'S GO.
[ Beeping of horn ]
[ Mixed shouts ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Singing in foreign language ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
All: [ Squealing ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
All: [ Cheering ]
Gour:
Girls: [ Squealing ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ In foreign language ]
MOON!
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Blaring of horn ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Din of traffic ]
[ Mixed shouts/chatter ]
[ Chanting ]
[ Mixed chatter ]
Manik: [ Shouting ]
Zana: [ Narrating ] I'M NOT A SOCIAL WORKER.
I'M NOT A TEACHER, EVEN.
THAT'S MY FEAR, YOU KNOW, THAT I REALLY CAN'T DO ANYTHING
AND THAT EVEN HELPING THEM TO GET AN EDUCATION
IS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING.
BUT WITHOUT HELP, THEY'RE DOOMED.
Woman:
Zana: [ Narrating ] WE'RE GOING TO JUST GO
AND FIND OUT EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED FOR THE KIDS' SCHOOL APPLICATIONS.
I'VE GOT THE ORIGINAL BIRTH CERTIFICATES,
I'VE GOT XEROXES OF THE BIRTH CERTIFICATES.
THE REASON THIS IS SO DIFFICULT
IS BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS CANNOT BE CRIMINALS.
AND THEIR PARENTS ARE ALL CRIMINALS.
THEY'RE ALL PROSTITUTES, DEALING DRUGS,
SELLING ALCOHOL ILLEGALLY.
Zana: I DON'T UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, EVERY DAY:
"COME TOMORROW, IT'LL BE DONE."
YOU SAID IT WOULD BE DONE TODAY.
YOU PROMISED IT WOULD BE DONE TODAY.
YOU PROMISED IT WOULD BE DONE LAST TUESDAY.
THEY CAN'T PUT A STAMP ON THIS?
SUNIL.
Zana: HE SPELLS IT WITH A "V".
IT'S ON... IT'S ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE AS "V".
THE ORIGINAL RATION CARD SAID "V".
A-V-I...
A-V-I, "V", "V".
Man:
I JUST WANT TO KNOW HOW LONG IS IT SUPPOSED TO TAKE
ONCE YOU HAVE ALL THIS STUFF?
Woman: [ Translating ]
I COULD KILL THIS RATION GUY.
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Zana: I NEED TO GO OVER EVERYTHING THAT YOU NEED
'CAUSE I DON'T... I DON'T...
Woman: YEAH, UH, BIRTH CERTIFICATES.
I HAVE BIRTH CERTIFICATES.
AND RATION CARDS.
THEY DON'T... I MEAN...
OH, GOD. IF I HAVE TO GO TO
THAT RATION CARD OFFICE AGAIN
I THINK I'LL JUST JUMP OFF A BRIDGE.
AHH, OH MY GOD.
I, UH... I'VE ALREADY...
ANYWAY, I TALK TO MR. BANERJEE ABOUT THIS.
Zana: OKAY.
UM, MEDICAL CERTIFICATES.
SOME SORT OF MEDICAL...
I HAVE NO IDEA.
YEAH, DEFINITELY.
IT'S TOTALLY POSSIBLE. I DON'T KNOW.
I MEAN, I'LL... I'LL... I'LL DO IT IF YOU WANT,
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S WORTH...
JUST GET THE MEDICAL CERTIFICATE...
SO I HAVE TO TAKE THEM ALL TO A DOCTOR.
Zana: [ Narrating ] PRIYA AUNTIE, BAD NEWS.
POTENTIALLY DEVASTATING NEWS.
SHILOO CALLED AND SHE SAID THAT THE MEDICAL TESTS ARE COMPULSORY
AND THEY CAN'T MOVE AHEAD UNTIL I HAVE THE RESULTS OF HIV TESTS,
AND THAT IF THEY HAVE HIV, THEY WON'T TAKE THEM.
AHHH!
PERFECT.
Zana: GOOD NEWS.
THEY'RE ALL NEGATIVE.
WOW. VERY HAPPY.
[ Mixed chatter ]
[ Singing in foreign language ]
Tapasi:
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Zana: [ Narrating ] RIGHT NOW, I'M LOOKING FOR GRANT MONEY.
MY GOAL NOW IS... I MEAN, IT'S TO TEACH THEM,
BUT ALSO TO RAISE MONEY FOR THEM USING THEIR OWN PHOTOGRAPHY,
SELLING THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THEM.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IS GOING TO USE
THE KIDS' PHOTOS FOR THEIR CALENDAR.
AND THEIR PHOTOS ARE BEING AUCTIONED AT SOTHEBY'S.
THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS IS TO GET THE KIDS OUT OF THE BROTHELS.
Zana: SHANTI'S PHOTOGRAPH.
[ Mixed chatter/chuckles ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Children:
Zana: [ Narrating ] I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW ROBERT PLEDGE
FROM CONTACT PRESS IMAGES,
BUT HE'S COME OUT TO TEACH THE KIDS.
HE RUNS A PRETTY MAJOR PHOTO AGENCY IN NEW YORK CITY.
HE'S BECOME VERY INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT,
AND VERY SUPPORTIVE.
Robert: COULD YOU ALL LOOK HERE
AND TELL ME IF THERE ARE OTHER
PICTURES IN THIS SERIES
THAT ANY ONE OF YOU LIKES VERY PARTICULARLY?
AND, UH....
Avijit:
Pledge: AVIJIT IS VERY, VERY EXCEPTIONAL.
VERY SPECIAL.
HE HAS A NATURAL TALENT.
AND THIS ORGANIZATION IN HOLLAND,
CALLED THE WORLD PRESS PHOTO FOUNDATION,
EVERY YEAR INVITES NINE CHILDREN
FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD
TO COME AND SPEND ONE WEEK IN AMSTERDAM
AND LOOK AT PHOTOGRAPHS
THAT ARE MADE BY 4,000 PHOTOGRAPHERS
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AND ONE OF OUR IDEAS IS TO GET AVIJIT TO COME
AND BE THE CHILD PHOTOGRAPHER FROM INDIA
TO BE PRESENT AT THIS SHOW.
AND THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL THING.
AS A GRANDMOTHER, YOU SHOULD FEEL
VERY HAPPY AND VERY PROUD.
Translator: SHE'S HAPPY, WE ALL ARE HAPPY.
SO FAR WE'VE HAD TWO EXHIBITIONS IN NEW YORK,
BUT YOU HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO BE THERE.
SO, I'VE ORGANIZED AN EXHIBITION
AT THE OXFORD BOOKSTORE ON PARK STREET,
OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS,
ONLY OF YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS AND...
[ Mixed comments]
SO YOU WILL ALL BE THE GUESTS OF HONOUR.
YOUR MOTHERS ARE INVITED AS WELL. SO ALL OF THEM...
Zana:
Woman:
Zana: CAN SOMEBODY TAKE
CARE OF THE BABY FOR ONE EVENING
SO THAT YOU CAN COME TO THE SHOW?
Avijit:
OH, THEY'RE ALL HERE. AMAZING.
HOW ARE YOU?
I'M VERY WELL, THANK YOU. HOW ARE YOU?
Pledge: IN YESTERDAY'S NEWSPAPER,
THERE'S AN ARTICLE.
YOU ARE PUBLISHED ON THE FRONT PAGE
OF THE BIGGEST NEWSPAPER IN INDIA.
I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE PICTURES
THAT WE'RE GOING TO PUT ON THE WALL.
WHOSE PICTURE IS THIS?
Girl: SHANTI'S.
SHANTI.
YOU LIKE IT?
THIS IS ANOTHER PICTURE.
Children: KOCHI.
Pledge: WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Children:
THIS IS YOU-KNOW-WHO.
[ Mixed chatter ]
Pledge: THE LAST PICTURE
IS THE ONE THAT'S IN THE NEWSPAPER.
THAT'S IT. CONGRATULATIONS.
NOW THEY'RE GOING TO SIGN THE PICTURES.
[ Beeping of horns ]
Tapasi: Zana: WHAT?
Children: [ Cheering ]
[ Whooping ]
YOU REALLY LIKE...
"I LIKE IT VERY MUCH."
"I" I...
"LIKE" LIKE...
"IT" IT...
"VERY MUCH". VERY MUCH. YES.
THIS IS HER HAND. THIS IS HER HAND.
HER HAND IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA.
[ Mixed chatter ]
Reporter: THESE PHOTOGRAPHS WILL NOW TRAVEL
TO DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.
AND THE PROCEEDS FROM THE EXHIBITIONS
WILL GO TO ITS ONE SINGLE PURPOSE:
A DECENT EDUCATION FOR THE CHILDREN AND, HOPEFULLY,
A CHANCE TO KNOW A WORLD OUTSIDE THE RED LIGHT AREAS OF CALCUTTA.
[ Name indistinct ] STAR NEWS.
[ Mixed chatter ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Zana: [ Narrating ] AVIJIT'S MOTHER DIED.
SOME KIND OF KITCHEN EXPLOSION, ACCIDENT.
I HOPE IT WASN'T...
DO YOU KNOW HOW SHE DIED, WHAT HAPPENED?
THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT, AS SOON AS I HEARD KIT...
"KITCHEN ACCIDENT," I'M LIKE, UH...
I'M VERY WORRIED ABOUT HIM NOW WITH THIS NEWS.
WILL THERE BE ANY POLICE?
NOTHING.
SO SAD. OH.
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Avijit:
Children: [ Mixed chatter ]
Zana: WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS.
Zana: EVERYBODY KNOWS
THAT AVIJIT IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO AMSTERDAM.
HE STILL HASN'T GOT HIS PASSPORT
BECAUSE THERE WERE A LOT OF PROBLEMS.
BUT IF HE GOES,
HE'S GOING TO REPRESENT ALL
OF YOU AND THE PHOTO CLASS
AND ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING.
Zana: DID THEY INVITE US IN OR NO?
Woman: YEAH.
I WANT TO GET HIS TWO ROLLS OF FILM...
[ In foreign language ]
HE'S GOT SCHOOL IN THE MORNING,
THEN HE'S GOT SCHOOL TILL 5:00? IS THAT RIGHT?
WHAT ABOUT YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY?
YOU DON'T CARE?
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Zana: I COULD NOT GET A PASSPORT FOR THAT KID.
I WENT THROUGH EVERYTHING. I COULDN'T DO IT.
ACTUALLY, IT HASN'T BEEN CONFIRMED, SO I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU
THAT HIS PASSPORT APPLICATION HAS BEEN ACCEPTED.
THERE'S NO WAY TO GET THIS KID'S PASSPORT
BECAUSE HE LIVES IN THE RED LIGHT DISTRICT.
Pledge: [ On phone ] I'm afraid the whole
thing's going to fall through because of...
WELL, I'M AFRAID THE WHOLE THING'S GOING TO FALL THROUGH TOO.
AVIJIT HASN'T SHOT ANYTHING AT ALL, BECAUSE HE'S JUST...
SOMEWHERE ELSE.
Zana: YOU GUYS, YOU, AND YOU, AND YOU,
HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO A SCHOOL.
[ In foreign language ]
SHE CAN VISIT.
IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S FAR.
Boy: SHE WANTS TO KNOW
IF THEY HAVE ONLY VEG FOOD OVER THERE?
Zana: ONLY VEG FOOD?
Translator:
Man:
[ Translating ]
[ Mixed chatter ]
Woman: HOW IS
OUR DAUGHTER GOING TO EAT?
SHE DOESN'T EAT BY HERSELF.
SHE HAS TO LEARN TO EAT BY HERSELF.
[ Mixed chatter ]
BYE, BYE.
Puja:
BYE.
Zana:
[ In foreign language ] BRING YOUR CAMERA.
Zana: [ Narrating ] THIS GUY TIM GRANDAGE WHO RUNS "FUTURE HOPE"
ONLY WANTS KIDS FROM BAD BACKGROUNDS,
LIKE THE CHILDREN OF SEX WORKERS.
BUT IT'S FOR BOYS ONLY.
AND THERE'S PRETTY MUCH NOWHERE ELSE FOR THESE KIDS TO GO.
NOBODY ELSE WILL TAKE THEM.
Zana: OKAY, THERE'S TWO
THAT NEED TO GET OUT VERY URGENTLY.
MAYBE THE TWO... DO THEY KNOW EACH OTHER?
YEAH, THEY LIVE IN THE SAME BROTHEL.
WHICH IS THE ONE THAT YOU'RE MOST WORRIED ABOUT?
AVIJIT. AVIJIT, RIGHT.
I MEAN, AVIJIT'S ALWAYS ASKING ME. YOU KNOW, HE SAYS, "I HATE IT HERE,
I CAN'T DO ANYTHING HERE, I CAN'T STUDY."
UM, HIS ONE GRANDMOTHER
I THINK REALLY CARES FOR HIM
BUT LIKE, HAS NO CONTROL OVER HIM.
HIS GRANDFATHER AND HIS FATHER ARE JUST SORT OF NOT...
EFFECTIVE AT ALL. AND HE'S, UH...
I THINK HE'S GOING TO TURN OUT TO BE A PRETTY BAD KID SOON
IF HE DOESN'T GET SOME REAL HELP.
HE'S GOT AN EGO, FOR SURE.
UM... I THINK IF HE'S IN THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT HE'LL ALSO...
HE WANTS TO BE GOOD BUT HE HAS NO GUIDANCE.
IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS
HE'S HAD A REAL CHANGE OF HEART ABOUT EVERYTHING.
AND HE'S JUST... HE SEEMS TO BE PRETTY APATHETIC.
I THINK HE'S REACHED A CRITICAL POINT,
AND IF HE DOESN'T GET OUT OF THERE
REALLY SOON, HE'S LOST.
THAT'S HOW I'M FEELING ABOUT AVIJIT.
HE'S A VERY BRIGHT KID. HE'S VERY TALENTED.
GIVE US FIVE MINUTES. WHY...
WHY DON'T WE GO CHAT NEXT DOOR...
[ Indistinct ] OKAY.
GIVE US FIVE MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
[ Beeping of horn ]
IF YOU DON'T HAVE A GOOD FOUNDATION, YOU CAN'T BUILD.
BUT THEY HAVE TO START AT A CERTAIN STANDARD.
AND IF YOU WORK HARD, THEN YOU GO UP VERY QUICKLY.
ISN'T IT BETTER TO BETTER TO BE WITH
GOOD PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT YOU
AND THAT WANT TO TEACH YOU WELL,
THAN A NUMBER?
BUT IT'S UP TO... YOU KNOW, IT'S UP TO YOU.
Boy: [ In foreign language ]
AND AS FOR YOU,
YOU WANT TO GO, THEY'LL TAKE YOU.
Zana & Manik:
Zana: BUT HE UNDERSTANDS, RIGHT?
THIS IS THE ONLY CHOICE.
IF HE DOESN'T TAKE THIS OFFER THEN THAT'S IT,
HE STAYS AT HOME. THERE'S NOTHING MORE I CAN DO.
OR WANT TO DO.
MANIK HAS ALSO, I THINK, BEEN ACCEPTED INTO A SCHOOL,
THE SAME SCHOOL AS AVIJIT.
Zana: EVERYBODY'S GOING
TODAY, AND IT'S THE LAST CHANCE.
SO THERE'S NO OTHER OPPORTUNITY.
Grandmother:
Zana: IT'S GOOD FOR HER.
FOR PUJA... [ In foreign language ]
YOU CAN SEE HER.
[ In foreign language ] EVERY MONTH. ONE TIME.
BYE. MANIK!
[ Mixed chatter ]
[ Singing ]
[ Honking of horn ]
Zana: [ Narrating ] THERE IS NO WAY
I'M GOING TO GET AVIJIT'S PASSPORT
WITHOUT SOMEBODY HIGHER UP INTERVENING.
I DON'T THINK THIS KID IS GOING TO GET A PASSPORT.
HIS SCHOOL THING, HIS BIRTH CERTIFICATE,
LETTER FROM THE STUDENT COUNSELLOR,
A COPY OF THE RATION CARD,
CORRECTIONS FOR THE RATION CARD,
LETTER FROM BOB,
LETTER FROM WORLD PRESS PHOTO,
AND AN INVITATION LETTER FOR AVIJIT.
SO IF THAT DOESN'T DO IT, THEN NOTHING WILL.
Zana: WHERE IS IT? WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
AMSTERDAM.
WHEN? TOMORROW.
ARE YOU EXCITED? YES.
[ ♪♪♪ on radio ]
[ ♪♪♪ ]
Priya:
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Chuckles ]
Man: NO, NO, TOGETHER. OH!
[ ♪♪♪ ]
[ Singing in foreign language ]
[ Mixed chatter ]