Daman

Story: A young doctor takes it upon himself to single-handedly eradicate Malaria from over one hundred and fifty one remote villages of Odisha where superstition and lack of basic amenities have proved fatal for the tribal population for years on end. This is a true story.

Review: Siddharth Mohanty (Babushaan Mohanty) is a young MBBS pass out, who has been posted in a remote village of Malkangiri district in Odisha that is infested with mosquitoes and naxalites. It’s a place that has been cut-off from the rest of the world like most of its adjoining villages. Any kind of development here is a distant dream and healthcare is at the mercy of dubious Godmen, who fleece the gullible and superstitious tribals, which often leads to rampant deaths. Siddharth, who is all set to run away after spending a harrowing day and a sleepless night at his new posting, stays back after seeing the plight of a father, who is begging him to save his little daughter’s life. Siddharth then embarks upon a perilous and an almost-impossible mission of educating the villagers and eradicating the menace of Malaria in the vast and neglected part of tribal Odisha. He devices a program called Durgama Anchalare Malaria Nirakarana or DAMaN.

With a true story that’s tailor-made for a documentary, directors and writers Vishal Mourya and Debi Prasad Lenka, give us a riveting tale of grit, determination and resilience of a fearless young doctor, who achieves the impossible. Shot in real locations amidst real people of Odisha’s downtrodden villages, ‘DAMaN’ never slips in its narrative and successfully engages the audience. There is never a moment of cinematic liberty that undercuts the seriousness of the situation. Pratap Rout’s captivating cinematography captures the nuances of life in Malkangiri and the sweeping shots of its lush green expanse, beautifully underlines the contrast between life and the looming threat of death. Gaurav Anand’s music is relevant and moving. It adds the required impact and heft to the proceedings that will often leave you with a lump in your throat.

Odia superstar Babushaan slips effortlessly into the skin of his character, delivering a nuanced and honest performance as Doctor Siddharth. He looks the part and makes it so easy to root for the cause that he is fighting for. It gives hope and positivity in a dire situation where innocent villagers are losing lives due to their ignorance, age-old beliefs and administrative apathy. Dipanwit Dashmohapatra provides able support as his assistant and pharmacist Ravi. Together, they make a formidable team that works against all odds.

‘DAMaN’s beauty lies in its realism and ability to give hope in a hopeless scenario. Its source material is so strong that it doesn’t require any kind of frills to touch your heart. This simple and unwavering tale of a doctor’s indomitable spirit is a winner all the way.