Child sexual abuse or also called as child molestation, is a dire social problem, prevalent in all parts of the world. Child sexual abuse (CSA) occurs when an adult or older person tries to gain sexual stimulation from a minor or a child. In other words, a child is sexually assaulted by an adult. Such an act can loudly affect a child, physically, psychologically and emotionally. A child is naïve, and more often than not, they’re not able to differentiate between good and bad touch. When they’re put in the positions of sexual violence and abuse, they end up getting confused and dazed about it.
In India, 1 out of every 2 children faces child sexual abuse and 95% of the times the abuser is someone known to the child rather than a stranger from outside. Children’s innocence ends up getting them into these violent and abusive scenarios, and the only way out of this is proper education and awareness about the same. ChildLine India’s short film, ‘Komal,’ is an excellent media to reach to the masses and let them know about CSA and how to prevent it.
Synopsis
The movie brings to us a sweet seven-year-old girl named Komal. She is like every other child her age: naïve, naughty, and playful. She loves playing, be it with her parents or her friends. The movie also introduces Komal’s father’s best friend, Mr. Bakshi. The short film then takes a terrorizing turn, which unfortunately reflects the reality lurking around us every day. Mr. Bakshi sexually abuses the young Komal. At first, he gains her trust, by playing with her, getting Komal her favourite sweet dishes. In all, he disguises himself as her true friend, who is kind and playful with her. However, he soon shows his true colours. The animated short film takes a terrorizing turn. Mr. Bakshi sexually abuses her, and puts her in an atrocious position. A seven-year-old that she is, the act leaves her perplexed, repulsed and shaken to the very core.
The film then introduces us to ChildLINE India, which is an NGO primarily working against child labour, child abuse, child trafficking, child marriage, homeless children, and the like. The NGO, through this film, has significantly tried to pass on the message of child sexual abuse and how the children must be prepared and taught about good touch and bad touch, so they can know the signs of it early on and report it to an adult they trust. Such steps are crucial to make the children safe from the physical and psychological trauma of abuse.
The Significance of Short Films Like Komal
Child Sexual Abuse is a global problem. Both boys and girls are at an equal risk of being abused. With the new age of Internet and the digital world, the risks of child abuse through the internet have also surfaced as a worry. According to global records, 1 in every 3 children who’re abused by an adult never report it to anyone about it. In the short film, ‘Komal’, there is a repeated emphasis on the importance of the child reporting about what happened to them to an adult whom they trust.
‘Komal’ also calls for the importance of CSA workshops that must be provided to all children possible. It is through these group discussions and an assembly of children in which they feel safe knowing they’re not alone in this. It makes them feel heard and reassures them that there are still many good people around them ready to help them. ‘Komal’ therefore is an exceptional animated movie, and by far, it is serving its prime purpose readily.
