‘A Mistake’ is a short film to build awareness in children and teenagers about road safety
RAMANDEEP KAUR | NT KURIOCITY
It’s very important to instill a sense of responsibility in children from an early stage and with this idea the Cezar Dramatic Troupe in association with David Furtado Dance Academy has come up with a short film ‘A Mistake’ to bring awareness about road safety rules among children and teenagers.
Director of ‘A Mistake’, David Furtado who has worked on projects like Andheron Ke Khwab, Deewana Dil, Jeelo Zindagi, Azadi, Hum Jo Bhi Hai and Love You Charu says that the short film is of four superheroes in a car played by four under-aged children.
“The film shows how children behave in the absence of an adult with them in a car taken or given to them knowingly or unknowingly by parents or friends. They drive without a license (being underage), intoxicated with alcohol and over speeding—all dangerous in real life. The love for speed and breaking all the rules, land them in trouble with traffic cops and the department. A lot of children are involved in such behaviour and a blind eye is shown by the parents. These days you see a number of accidents taking place on the roads,” he says.
Apart from the message, the film is very informative as it tells about the offence and the sections under which the offenders will be published.
Furtado adds that nowadays when you travel on the road or open a newspaper, you come across accidents — more to do with youth and children. That is the reason he thought of making this short film, which will send a message. “It will be like a warning or reminder to our children and youth, and especially the parents, who today have no time, or are not aware of their children’s activities that involved breaking of the law.”
And so for the script, he got in touch with writer Cesar D’mello who did a fine job on the short film.
Talking about the title being ‘A Mistake’, Furtado explains that we all make mistakes, but we need to correct them. Once it becomes a habit, you become an offender so it is better when teachers and parents correct children in the beginning when they are committing a mistake. “The word mistake sounds a little too soft, but when we consider explaining the repercussions to the child which turn him/her into a serious offender, it is not a mere mistake,” says Furtdao. Through the film, Furtdao says the message he wants to emanate is — “Follow the traffic rules. Don’t drive without a license. Do not drink and drive. Do not over speed and have all your documents up-to-date. Slow down your car on a zebra crossing and parents should keep a watch on their children’s activities.”
The eight-minute short film has actor Kevin D’mello, who plays the role of a traffic cop and a superhero so that every child thinks he is a superhero and starts to act like him. “Majority of our students will like it, and schools and college students are the target audience.”
The film has been shown in two schools already and is being taken to other institutions. With a lot of positive feedback, Furtado mentions that the Department of Transport has also appreciated the film.
