Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Aug 20: Journalist Irshad Uppinangady’s gripping documentary 'Swargada Haadiyalli Kamarutiruva Kanasugalu' (Shattered Dreams on the Path to Heaven) was screened at theInformation office here on August 19.

The documentary explores the taboo on Muslim girls, as young as five and six, dancing in school programmes. Dozens of littles girls interviewed in the film say that they want to dance in school events but are afraid of their religious teachers and clerics who have forbidden young girls of the community from dancing. Parents too say they are helpless because they feel scared going against the diktats of the religious heads.

Irshaad Uppinangady, TV journalist and director of the documentary said, "I made this documentary after interacting with many children's workers, religious leaders, social activists, students and many other progressive people. When we went to Madrasas as children, our female classmates were restricted from taking part in school dance. They wished to participate in the dance but they were not allowed due to the fatwas by religious leaders. Such restrictions should not be put on little girls. Dancing is a personal choice, there is nothing wrong in taking part. By these fatwas the personal freedom of these children is restricted."

Sara Abubakkar, veteran writer said, "I am really happy that at least a youth from our community has come forward against such regressive thoughts. When I was in 9th standard there was a drama to be staged in our school. I had given my name but my teacher asked my father whether I could take part and my father did not allow it.

"Children need to be allowed to explore their talents, only then they will grow in their careers. I watched Aamir Khan's movie 'PK'. It has conveyed a very good message about how people are exploited in the name of religion. Today the situation in the society is such that people don't see each others as human beings, rather they see them by their religion. There are so many groups in Islam, which one do we follow, this is the question. Irshad has made a small attempt against such wrong fatwas," she said.

Khader Sha, Information officer of Dakshina Kannada said, "Irshad has chosen a very sensitive issue. For any change in the society there will be opposition. Change is not that easy. Today Irshad has taken a small step towards change."

Renny D'Souza, Muneer Katipalla, Dinesh Ullepady and many others were present at the screening.