Ithal pozhiya pookkal, a short film on children with special needs, goes viral on social media

Kudumbashree mission's short film ‘Ithal pozhiya pookkal’, featuring Amalu, a 13-yr-old child with special needs, has gone viral. It aims to sensitise public on Buds School, a special school for mentally challenged children from poor families. The film highlights issues faced by similar children, concerns of parents, and activities at the institution.

‘Ithal pozhiya pookkal’, a short film brought out by the Wayanad district Kudumbashree mission on Buds School, the special school for mentally challenged children from poor families in the State, has gone viral on social media.

The 10-minute film is aimed at sensitising the public on the significance of Buds School and its daily activities, said K.J. Bijoy, director of the film.

Amalu, a child with special needs, is the main character of the film. Issues created by similar children in school, concerns of his parents, and activities at the institution are revealed through the 13-year-old boy’s perspective.

Many a time parents having children with special needs face a variety of stressors compared to other parents, said Mr. Bijoy, who is also the programme manager, Kudumbashree mission, Wayanad.

In most of the cases, mothers are affected seriously and poverty worsens the issue, he added.

“Even the parents of these children are not aware of the activities at a Buds School. We have been organising various activities in the school such as speech therapy, behavioural therapy, occupational therapy, agri therapy, and livelihood activities such as making umbrellas, paper pens, note pads, photo frames, and carpets for the overall development of the children,” he said.

The film also stresses on the need for support from the public to make the children a part of society and help them become self-reliant, District Mission Coordinator P.K. Balasubrahmanian said.