Jhalki(2019)
A lyrical story of lost childhood, against the powerful backdrop of child slavery and human trafficking. It is a heart-rending but inspiring story of a nine-year old street-smart girl, Jhalki, in search of her seven-year old brother, Babu, who is suddenly thrown into an inhuman world of child labor with no respite from a terminally gloomy, dark and depressing workplace. Armed with an intimate folk tale of a tireless sparrow, her own ingenious efforts and her charming presence of mind, Jhalki manages her search and eventually free her brother, along with thousands of other enslaved children caught in this insidious practice, affecting over 200 million children worldwide.
Quick Facts
- Streaming on
- YouTube Movies
- OTT Release Date
- 27 September 2019
- Theatrical Release
- 27 September 2019
- Director
- Brahmanand S Singh
- Language
- Hindi
- Runtime
- 1h 45m
- Rating
- 7.3/10
Storyline
A nine-year-old girl named Jhalki searches for her younger brother, who was taken away to work in a harsh child labor camp. Using a folk tale about a determined sparrow and her own clever ideas, she sets out to rescue him. Her journey helps free not only her brother but also many other children trapped in the same terrible situation.
“A little girl's courage frees a million dreams.”
Film Details
Parental Guide
Where to Watch
Vibe & Tags
Cast & Crew
Trivia
- The film's director, Brahmanand S. Singh, is primarily known as a documentary filmmaker, making this his first major feature film.
- The story was inspired by real-life events and the global issue of child labor, aiming to create awareness through cinema.
- Young actress Aarti Jha, who played Jhalki, had no prior professional acting experience before this film.
- The folk tale of the tireless sparrow, central to the plot, is based on a traditional Indian fable often told to children.
- The movie had a very limited theatrical release in India, focusing more on film festival circuits and awareness campaigns.
- Parts of the film were shot in the rural regions of Uttar Pradesh to authentically depict the setting of the story.
- The film's title 'Jhalki' translates to 'a glimpse' or 'a spark,' symbolizing the small but persistent hope of the protagonist.
