Kicking Balls Documentary Highlights Child Marriage And Girls' Empowerment Through Football

The documentary 'Kicking Balls' by Sikhya Entertainment and Viniyard Films explores the sensitive issue of child marriages in India. Known for producing the Oscar-winning 'The Elephant Whisperers,' these producers aim to highlight this pressing social concern through their latest work.

Directed by Vijayeta Kumar, 'Kicking Balls' premiered at the New York Indian Film Festival, where it won Best Documentary Short. The film follows a group of girls in Rajasthan who challenge societal norms by playing football. With support from a local NGO, these girls gain confidence and a voice to shape their futures.

The documentary was released on Prasar Bharti's new OTT platform, WAVES. This launch was announced by producer Guneet Monga Kapoor and Prasar Bharti CEO Gaurav Dwivedi on 22nd November at the 55th International Film Festival of India in Goa. WAVES aims to provide free and accessible programming to households across India.

Prasar Bharati has played a crucial role in India's cultural and educational development through Doordarshan and Akashvani. The collaboration with the Indian government for WAVES continues this mission, ensuring that important stories like 'Kicking Balls' reach audiences nationwide.

Vijayeta Kumar shared her experience making the documentary: "Making documentaries is never easy. We spent 5 years with the communities in Rajasthan, understanding the journey of these young girls and building this story to represent their fight. Kicking Balls is a documentary all about smashing patriarchy. It's about giving girls, the wings and the voice to take flight."

The film aims to spark discussions about child marriage and patriarchy. Vijayeta hopes it will resonate with audiences across India, especially in rural areas where such issues are prevalent.

Producers' Vision for Change

Ashvini Yardi, Guneet Monga Kapoor, and Achin Jain produced 'Kicking Balls' to initiate conversations against child marriage nationwide. They stated, "Distribution for content often holds back many important stories and conversations. With Kicking Balls releasing now across India on Waves with the support of Prasar Bharti - we hope the story of these child brides reaches the right audiences."

The producers aim to connect with young girls facing similar challenges silently, encouraging them to unite as a community and amplify their voices.

Empowering Young Girls Through Sports

The film portrays these girls as heroes who tackle patriarchy one game at a time. The producers hope their stories inspire others facing similar realities daily. They believe that empowering these girls can bring agency to their lives and futures.

"These girls, playing football and tackling patriarchy one game at a time are the true heroes," they said. "We hope their stories are celebrated and championed among the communities across India."

'Kicking Balls' seeks not only to entertain but also to educate and inspire change by highlighting real-life struggles faced by young girls in India.