Late at night on a local train in Mumbai, young Chini witnesses an incident that forces her to face up to demons from her past. Based on a true story, the narrative revolves around a little girl growing up in poverty with her father in a rural area. When he’s unable to manage caring for her himself, he sends Chini to her uncle in a nearby town, where life-changing events occur. The film tackles crucial, taboo topics, tracing the recurring question of responsibility – or silence.
2015 – 91 min – drama
language: Marathi – subtitles: Czech, English
directed by: Gajendra Ahire
Story: Ashwini Sidwani
Screenplay: Ashwini Sidwani/Gajendra Ahire
cast: Raghubir Yadav, Anjali Patil, Nagraj Manjule, Kadambari Kadam, Mugdha Chaphekar, Vedashree Mahajan
Trailer for The Silence
About the director
GAJENDRA AHIRE has directed over 40 films including Not Only Mrs Raut and Shevri both of which won National Awards for Best Marathi Film. Anumati won the Best Film at the 2013 New York India Film Festival and Postcard was a Best Director nominee at the 2014 New York India Film Festival. He has received 17 personal Maharashtra State Awards for direction, screenplay, dialogues and lyrics for his films Sariwar Sari, Vasudev Balwant Fadke, Vitthal Vitthal, Khandobachya Navane, Pandhar, Sail, Krishna Katachi Mira. His films May Baap, Bayo, Simbraan and Not Only Mrs. Raut were selected for India Panorama (iffi).
In addition, to direction Gajendra is also an avid writer and lyricist who started his career directing, acting and writing for Marathi plays. He has conducted workshops at the Dr. Balasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University in Aurangabad. He has been a member of the Goa and Maharashtra Film Finance Committees.
