Shankar’s Fairies

Synopsis

In 1960s India, Shankar is an indispensable servant working in the house of a wealthy family. Despite their class differences, he shares a close bond with the family’s young daughter and loves to spend time telling her imaginative stories about magical fairies and mythical creatures. Far away in his hometown, Shankar’s own daughter takes ill. Torn between his work and familial responsibilities, his social station is thrown into stark relief. Expertly scripted by the director’s mother (Nita Kumar), who drew from her own childhood and shot in the old family home, Shankar’s Fairies explores the realities of an exploitative, classist society through the unburdened eyes of childhood. Filled with wonder and imagination, the film is a deeply felt portrait of a character at odds with the society around him.