Atanu Mukherjee’s short film is a comment on how we are quick to stereotype people without bothering to find out about their lives.
Wig review: Subtle exploration of battling one’s own prejudices
Cinestaan Rating
Release Date: 2019 / 25min
Sukhpreet Kahlon | New Delhi, 07 Nov 2020 9:30 IST
Atanu Mukherjee’s short film Wig examines the deep-seated prejudices that surface within us, emerging unbidden. The film was premiered at the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala in 2019 and screened at the Aesthetica Short Film Festival (ASFF).
Artika (Ipshita Chakraborty Singh) is a young woman from Jabalpur who has moved to Mumbai for work. In the big city, she encounters the typical mindset of landlords against single women and faces them head-on.
One night, while returning from work, she finds transgender streetwalkers right outside her building, going about their work. She finds herself evoking notions of decency and good behaviour and complains to her broker to get rid of the sex workers. Then one night an incident takes place which makes her examine her world view.
Mukherjee’s film questions our perceptions about ourselves when we confront those who are different. As a single working woman, Artika is an independent and progressive young woman and her meeting with a trans person presents her with a choice of what she should do.
Wig presents a chance encounter between two very different worlds, which highlights the way our perceptions about people are shaped. Just as she is subjected to judgement and prejudice, Artika makes certain assumptions about the way in which transgender people lead their lives but realizes that her notions are disconnected from their reality.
In a larger context, the film is a comment on how we are quick to stereotype people without bothering to find out more about them and their circumstances.
Mukherjee, who has written, directed and edited the film, is an alumnus of the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute of India.
Wig is being screened at the Dharamshala International Film Festival 2020. You can watch the film here till Sunday 8 November.