The Flame That Burned

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Filmmaker: Farzana Malik Duration: 2 min, 24 sec Size: 2.3MB Language: Hindi with English subtitles Viewing Tip: If the video is choppy, please wait for the entire video file to download, then select the play button again.

Commentary

Shama is the name of the protagonist. It also means ‘Flame’ in Hindi. Using the burning candle as a metaphor, the filmmaker Farzana Malik wonders what is in store for her friend Shama who has been deeply affected by her parents’ separation. The pictures created by Farzana are simple, yet evocative. The one with a little girl on a swing, surrounded by Hindi, Urdu and English alphabets is particularly appealing. It captures within a single frame all that is missing in Shama’s life. In another sketch, Farzana shows the palanquin (a symbol of a wedding) alongside images of a clothes-line, a stove and a hand using a broom to illustrate Shama takes over household chores after her sister’s wedding. A broken home, a tearful child and an empty palaquin are all creatively represented to communicate Shama’s anguish.

Text Transcript of Audio Track

This is the story of Shama, a girl who lived in my neighborhood. Even though her parents were alive, she felt like an orphan. She felt this way because her parents fought constantly. Finally, the two of them separated and left behind a child who had never known the love of a mother or father. Shama has four brothers and a sister. Her sister got married, leaving Shama to look after her family. She cooked food, washed clothes and took care of everyone at home. But no one paid attention to the feelings of this small child. None of her brothers realized that she too needed to have a good life. She too needed to learn and get ahead. She continued to look after her family and her life went on. When I met her one day, she told me all about her life story.

I was determined to help her and started teaching her. Shama’s hard work and determination paid off. She put her heart into her studies. Today while Shama does not consider herself very educated, she does not think of herself as an illiterate either. She wants to continue learning and wants to get ahead in life. Shama does not want to get married, because after seeing what her parents went through, she is afraid of the mere thought of marriage. Will Shama marry? Will she be successful? Will she achieve something?

“I was a school dropout… But I decided to complete my 10th standard by correspondence. I want to do a lot. I want to do social work or teach… I am taking this workshop to learn more about computers and show other girls that it is possible to do whatever you set your mind to”

Farzana Malik, Age 16

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