Rakhi Mutta's Story:

 

As Punjabis, we pride ourselves in having strong family values rooted in an incredibly rich culture. We are revolutionaries, freedom fighters, and artists, who have influenced mainstream culture in India and abroad for an extremely long time. Our food is loved by many, our music is remixed, and our dance is appreciated by all.

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One of the things we don’t do well as a community is speak about issues that we associate with shame. We refuse to accept addiction, sexual violence, and violence against women as issues that affect our community. Instead of seeking answers, we silence our most vulnerable members of society in shame and then refuse to acknowledge their pain exists.

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Mental Health is one of these key issues. I have seen numerous relatives and family friends suffer silently, while their family members accuse them of being lazy, dramatic, or even attention-seeking.

This is why I wrote and directed Haneri. I wanted to make a film that highlighted the struggles of one person and how their family members react to them as a result. It is my hope that Haneri will be used as a tool for our community to begin the discussion around mental health.