The timing of the release of the documentary — Amoli: Priceless — could not have been better. Just when the Kathua rape case has caught the attention of the world, Amoli... a film, which tells the story of child trafficking releases on May 7 on YouTube and Facebook. The documentary, produced by a Mumbai-based digital media firm, Culture Machine, is made in English, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Marathi and Kannada and follows the story of a young girl, Amoli, who disappeared five years ago from a tea plantation.
Bengaluru Karnataka 02/08/2016 Actor Puneeth Rajkumar during the Godrej Interio Consumer Campaign "Upload and Transform" in Bengaluru on August 02, 2016. Photo: G.P. Sampath Kumar.
As the film reveals the stark reality of the child and her struggles, what gives it a local flavour is the voice of our own power star Puneeth Rajkumar. The actor has lent his voice to Amoli: Priceless, which is said to be India’s first digital documentary on commercial sexual exploitation of children.
Directed by documentary filmmakers and National Award winners, Jasmine Kaur Roy and Avinash Roy, the film has music by Tajdar Junaid.
Puneeth is thrilled to be a part of this venture as “the aim is to be a part of a cause and create awareness of the cruel happenings in our society,” says the actor over the phone.
He says has watched “bits and pieces” of the documentary, which includes stories of survivors who have been through the horrors of commercial sexual exploitation. “Most importantly, I have studied this concept intensely as I am lending my voice for it. I wanted to be sure about what I was propagating or fighting for. All I can say is that if my name can make a small change for a cause, then, I am proud to be a part of Amolie.... ”
When asked why such films are not screened in theatres and end up on social media platforms, he says, “That depends on the marketing team, I guess. I personally feel such films and themes must reach out to as many people as possible. On the other hand, if the content is powerful, it will reach out irrespective of the platforms on which they are released,” believes Puneeth, who says that every actor has a responsibility and each one has been doing his/her bit for the society.
“As an actor, when you can do or narrate something good on screen, then we should all support it as we too are a part of the society and cannot live in isolation”.
Puneeth is now soaring high as a producer. His first venture from his production house PRK, Kavalu Daari is almost complete and his next venture Maya Bazaar is 40 per cent done. “PRK, Parvathamma Production House is started in my mother’s memory. We wish to continue her legacy of making good cinema.
This is also a good way to remember her – the work she has done and the number of newcomers she has introduced to our industry,” states the actor.
For details about Amoli: Priceless , log on to
www.culturemachines.com/ < http://www.culturemachines.com/ > and to watch the film log on to
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiaSSqLUC-Q&t=4s (to watch in Kannada with Puneeth Rajkumar’s voiceover), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC_ZYiUq5AI (in Hindi with actor Rajkumar Rao’s voiceover) and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGDEIjYg8s8&t=11s (in English with Vidya Balan’s voiceover)
