Vijayeta Kumar, whose Kicking Balls was adjudged Best Documentary Short at the New York International Film Festival, says she is happy to be the change she wants to see

Can young girls break the shackles of child marriage, that too by playing football? Heartening answers to this puzzling query can be found in Vijayeta Kumar’s documentary Kicking Balls. Literally busting patriarchy, if the tongue-in-cheek title came to her organically, the story was probably providence, waiting to happen.

A visit to her hometown, Ajmer in Rajasthan, and she was piqued by the sight of village girls playing the game, so far considered a male domain. The girls were as intrigued—why would someone be interested in what they were doing. As Vijayeta puts it, “Feminism, as we the women of privilege see and practice, might be a western construct but here is everyday feminism. For these girls, it’s an everyday struggle.”

Patience pays

Getting them to face the camera came with its own set of challenges for unlike urban bred, who live in the world of Insta reels and reality shows, these girls had never experienced anything like this before. And this is where Vijayeta’s all-woman crew, especially her cinematographer Priyanka Singh’s presence, made all the difference in creating a comfort level of trust.

Incidentally, Vijayeta’s decision to have an all-women team didn’t quite start like a mission. During the making of her earlier film, Sunny Side Upar, when she asked friends in the industry for references of cinematographers, she realised not a single female name figured in that list. She recalls, “I thought in my mind, but I know so many women directors of photography.” Presto, nari shakti of various hues and skills gelled together. Initially, she had to put up with a snide remark, ‘oh, kitty party chal rahi hai’, here and there. However, soon producers realised it was the calmest set where everyone worked so professionally.

Worthy platform

Yet another woman who came on board for Kicking Balls was Oscar- winning producer Guneet Monga, which meant many doors did open. OTT boom may not have done much for Indie makers but Vijayeta reasons, “Every film does find its audience as well as a platform.”

As Kicking Balls is currently streaming on Prasar Bharti’s OTT app Waves, she reminds us how back in time Doordarshan, along with the National Film Development Corporation, helped the cause of Indie movement of cinema. On Waves, she herself has discovered many shows of yore like Jaspal Bhatti’s Flop Show. “The incredibly accessible Waves can reach out to more and more viewers, especially in rural hinterland which is where Kicking Balls ought to be seen,” she says.

Winds of change

Indeed, the struggle for Indie makers doesn’t end after the film is made. For even if the story at hand is waiting to be told, the trick lies in how you make people watch and listen. Her documentary, however, has found resonance among viewers at a clutch of film festivals like Mumbai International Film Festival, International Film Festival of South Asia Toronto, Indian Film Festival of Melbourne, Chicago South Asian Film Festival and more. Besides, many have come up with feelers as to how they help. The money thus collected has been given to the NGO which runs this unusual programme. With satisfaction, Vijayeta notes how the inspirational endeavour has not fallen through but given young girls agency. While one girl has become a FIFA-certified coach, many are studying in bigger cities and also bid adieu to toxic marriages.

Screening of her film at various festivals has also made her realise that child marriage is not a problem of North Indian states or India alone for that matter. During a screening at Stanford, she was shocked to know that in some states of USA the legal age of marriage is as low as 13. Of course, in India laws say one thing and society follows a different track. But Vijayeta feels, “We as a society can only make a miniscule difference. Ultimately, it’s government policies and proactive approach that can truly bring about a paradigm shift.” Till then, of course, she is happy to be the change she wants to see.