New short film sheds light on depression in elderly

Depression and alienation in older adults are the focal points of Bengaluru-based director Prataya Saha’s latest short, titled Nirjan, meaning the isolated. Featuring actor Manosh Sengupta as the lead character, the plot revolves around an elderly man, who lost his wife, and is now “trying to keep himself afloat in a timeless loop, interspersed by moments of depression, bouts of hallucination and amnesia”. Although memories of his happier days help to keep him alive, they also push him into a sort of psychological low point.

“A study conducted a few years ago showed that 25% of the country’s elderly population is depressed. This, coupled by the day-to-day stories we see and hear, indicate that older citizens are prone to anxiety issues and depression, just as much as younger adults are grappling with the mental health disorder. The incidences are higher after one loses his or her spouse. Nirjan is an attempt to shed light on this issue that, at most times, get ignored. We endeavour to sensitize the audience by the difficulties the elderly face in their seemingly stagnant lives,” explains Prataya.

Presented by Red Polka Productions, the short film also includes Hindi poetry by acclaimed poet Mohit Kataria. The group’s previous short film, Ardha, was based on the Supreme Court’s landmark Section 377 verdict. Directed by Benu Bina Banik and edited by Prataya, the movie reflects on a person’s willpower to look both inwards and outwards, in front of a judgmental society.