Devi: A short film with a strong message

Set in a single room occupied by many women, Devi is the story of perseverance. The film opens with a few women who seemingly belong to different worlds but are all stuck in the same room – but why? The story unravels in the next 13 minutes, as we get to know the trauma that they have suffered.

Written and directed by Priyanka Banerjee, Devi is an empathetic attempt to show that no matter the age, caste, religion and class, female rape victims are all stuck in the same purgatory. Be it the God-fearing woman (Kajol), or the deaf-dumb girl (Yashaswini Dayama), or even an older lady (Neena Kulkarni) – these women are different from each other, but suffer the same fate. As they watch the news on television, they learn that their little room will have more occupants with each passing day.

Priyanka Banerjee has tried to tell an effective story in a few minutes, and she hits hard towards the end with a spine-chilling moment. The subject and the execution of the film are strong.

When you consider the barrage of rape cases that are reported in the media every day and the fear that resides in every woman, Devi makes you feel even more helpless. The film is available for public viewing on YouTube.