Documentary filmmaker Sandeep Singh was deeply disturbed by a news article he read in 2012. The story revolved around an incident in Vikhroli, Mumbai, where three kids suffocated to death after they locked themselves inside a car. “It hit me hard because I’m a father myself, and I have a five-year-old daughter,” says Sandeep Singh. A couple of years later, Sandeep once again came across a similar report in the newspaper that happened in Delhi, where a cab driver accidentally locked his son and nephew inside his car. “The kind of guilt with which he lives is what pushed me to make this film,” he adds.
It was during the same time that a video was doing the rounds on the Internet that revealed that the headrest can be used as a tool to break open the car glass in case of an emergency. However, Sandeep didn’t buy into that theory and approached his automobile friend, who dismissed it. Sandeep believes that the situation is far worse in the North. “In the North, people have this mentality to do some quick shopping after locking their kids inside the car,” he says, adding, “ Headrest addresses the problem; it gives you a solution in times of crisis. And, it also eradicates the myth that the headrest can be used to break open the glass.” According to Sandeep, the five-minute film was made with an intention to raise awareness among parents and kids, “There’s no specific age group we’re addressing in this film. Kids have a lot of exposure today and they operate fancy phones. It’s important to educate them about the safety tools as well,” he adds.
But how does one tackle such a sensitive situation? “In the West, it’s mandatory to have a hammer in your car. But here, nobody follows such rules. First of all, you shouldn’t leave your kids inside the car and even if you did, there are other alternatives in case of emergencies.”
Sandeep Singh’s previous documentaries, especially Feeding on the Dead , have been showcased at several film festivals. The director has plans to make his feature film debut soon. “It’s produced by a leading studio and will be announced later this year,” he signs off.
Headrest will be available on the YouTube channel Maximus Films on February 5.
