Red Light

Sujata, like any other child, wanted to study. She was admitted to a good vernacular medium school far away from her neighborhood. 

Initially she had many friends. She was good at studies, but as time went by she discovered herself as a flutist. Slowly, she became very lonely, this flute became her only company. She stood like Krishna and practised playing the flute for hours. Everyone appreciated her art, but from far. She had this tremendous social scar, that of being fatherless. Slowly, she saw herself sitting alone in the classroom, in the garden. Everywhere.

Today, while she's receiving the Women of substance award, she recounts, with pain, her scarlet past. She received the award for two of her significant contributions to society; one, for setting up a school which teaches acceptance, tolerance and kindness, where students come from varied backgrounds, including some from her erstwhile neighborhood without feeling ostracized and two, for empowering women who are trained by her in healing through music therapy. 

Dr Sujata, a true doctor, is asked to end the award ceremony, with her flute. Red lights on, she stood like Krishna and played Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia's raga Yaman before an appreciative, august audience.

©Supratik Sen

Based on the true story of Sabita Debnath. She recounted her experience in the most popular reality show of Bengal, Didi no 1 anchored by our greatest charismatic personality, Rachana Bannerjee.