MUMBAI: Imagine the life of a man living like a mere scarecrow with no one to share his emotions with! Much disturbing isn't it? Neeru Khera’s The Creative Gypsy has come up with a new short film titled as SIRI - the living scarecrow. The movie talks about Siri, a worker and farmer in the earlier times working for big landlords and getting paid 1 /13th share of the harvest as his compensation.

As times changed and technology took over the farm work, Siri was reduced to just a farm servant living a life of almost a scarecrow. The share now turned into salary per month and he became just like a guard man of the farms. 

“This is not a preachy film. We have not gone into the hardships of a farmer’s life. This film is a story of a 75 year old farmer living alone in a large agricultural land. He misses his family his wife his only son who are not there with him. So much happens in one night that it will surprise you though not with overly dramatic emotional presentation. We had a great time interacting with the farmers and knowing the stories of their lives,” said Khera.

Slated to launch today, this moving short film depicts the world of the aggressive rich and rude urban youth clashing with a poor farmer which changes everything for them.

Though abandonment of parents is a truth touching people from all walks of life, the reality is much more graver than what we hearsay. In those times, lot of poor families abandoning their old parents to fend for themselves who started taking up for jobs at farm merely became scarecrows in a life of total loneliness.This story is based on one such man who waited for his son to come and take him after he abandoned him. He waited for his son for years but he never came .

The story is a slice of life from the farmlands of India but its core emotions finds its voice in various parts of the world and echoes for eternity. 

She further added, “This is not a anti system film, it’s pure heart and a slice of life of a farmer where loneliness is the biggest enemy.”

The 20 minute film is made by Dabboo Malik and has an interesting song composed by Sukhwinder Singh. The theme song has been sung by Armaan Malik. 

Shot on Cannon 5D and GoPro for some interesting and difficult shots, the lead in the movie does not come from an acting background. The film was shot in patiala and in the heart of Punjab and stars Abhay Attri as the lead man as a hardcore patiala boy. 

“I gave a freehand to Dabboo to make this movie. I only sat for the editing work. It was very difficult for us to shoot as Siri’s are only found in inskirts and were not keen on coming in front of the camera.”

The role of the protagonist has been played by Mehar Singh who has spent  his entire life at the fields. He has never been out of there and virtually spends his life as a living scarecrow.

“Mehar Singh has never acted in any film before and he still lives there doing his duty. It’s so real that it makes you feel the pain and loneliness of this man,” added Khera.

In the past, Khera’s channel has also been credited with the revolutionary web series All About Section 377 directed by Amit Khanna. The duo is all geared up for the second season of the series which will be taken to the villages of India. Apart from being in touch with various sponsors to get on board,  the series will have a transgender angle to it and is estimated to launch by October.  

With the success of her last two series, one thing that is bound to happen is a larger appetite for concepts like these. Kudos to her and the team for such wonderful efforts!