Kochi: 13-year-old makes short film on drug abuse

KOCHI: At a time when children easily fall prey to drug addiction, a teenager in the city has come up with a short film to create awareness among his peer group, parents and the police about the importance of how to prevent children from falling prey to drug peddlers and also to help them come back to normal life.

‘Puka-The Killing Smoke’, a 33-minute film written and directed by Sreehari Rajesh, a resident of Elamkulam and a class IX student of Bhavans Vidya Mandir, Eroor, depicts the story of how a 13-year-old boy, Jishnu (played by Sreehari’s classmate Aditya C Bose), becomes a drug addict due to lack of attention from parents and bad friendships. It also depicts the child-friendly activities of police that help drug victims de-addict themselves.

The official launch of the film was held at the Kadavanthra Child-Friendly police station on Saturday by inspector general of police P Vijayan, who is the state nodal of officer of student police cadets project. The screening was held as part Aravam 2019, the vacation camp for children at Kadavanthra police station.

It took two months for Sreehari, who is passionate about filmmaking from childhood itself, to complete the film. The editing and camera works are also done by him. Sreehari also played the role of Ambadi, the boy who lures Jishnu into drug addiction.

Vijayan said that similar initiatives by children need to be promoted.