In a world where disabled children are confined to the margins, a single mother with indomitable spirit challenges the system for her daughter.
It’s over three decades since Sir Daniel Day-Lewis starred as a disabled young man in ‘My Left Foot’. And now comes THALATTU 'The Lullaby’, a proof of concept short film.
It is a live action drama with a lyrical, stylised heartbeat.
The Story
London, 1997.
We enter the world of THE LULLABY when KAMANI, a single mother, using puppet theatre, tells seven year old NEELAM about the school she has chosen for her. But, a letter from the local authority arrives saying none of the primary schools are willing to admit Neelam. Undeterred, Kamani contacts the 'Inclusion Now' office, an organisation to help her challenge the schools' refusal. She also hopes to return to work as her parents have promised to look after Neelum. But then her parents arrive, unannounced, with news - they have decided to return back to India.
As the whirlwind settles around her, we find Kamani in a moment of quiet introspection as she soaks in a bath. We see her inner world come alive as she sings a lullaby of hope, promising to stand by her daughter, no matter what the obstacles.
"Why is it going to be an important film?"
"It's a human story that has not been told - it's a feel good movie it has elements of magical realism, I want people to enjoy the film - to also try and see the contribution disabled people have made to society, because quite often that's kind of forgotten, they're seen as dependent, and it's not all that - I want to bring all that out of the shadows - particularly for Asian communities to not see disability as a burden, to embrace it - to put love at the midst of everything."
"Cinema has the power to illuminate lives lived in the shadows, and the short film The Lullaby does just that—bringing a deeply personal, profoundly moving story to the screen."
The film blends magical realism with deeply symbolic imagery, encouraging audiences to challenge their assumptions about disability while celebrating the power of the human spirit.
Shortlisted for CenterFrame Film Club's 'Get it Made' Competition
