Wearing jewels, lipstick and a sari and sporting scarlet nails, the protagonist defiantly stares back at the camera. For 24-year-old Muhammed Asif Cherachen, an androgynous model, it was cathartic to talk about his decision to be the master of his identity.
Vighnesh A Bhaskar’s nine-minute-film, Society Barks, draws attention to the abuse of boys. A student of Neo Film School in Kochi, Vighnesh says the film was completed as part of his course when he had to direct a character portrait. He came across Asif’s story on a popular Instagram account.
“I was moved by his struggle to overcome the trauma he had suffered as a child. I had no idea where he lived or if he would agree to act in a film. There are people who assume that only girl children are vulnerable in society,” says Vighnesh.
