NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Netflix
    Shah Rukh Khan
    Alia Bhatt
    Salman Khan
    Ranbir Kapoor
    Ranveer Singh
    Amazon Prime Video
    NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / Entertainment News / #NewsBytesRecommends: 'Children of the Pyre'—a disconcerting, haunting, yet important watch
    Entertainment

    #NewsBytesRecommends: 'Children of the Pyre'—a disconcerting, haunting, yet important watch

    #NewsBytesRecommends: 'Children of the Pyre'—a disconcerting, haunting, yet important watch
    Written by Isha Sharma
    Oct 30, 2022, 06:30 pm 3 min read
    #NewsBytesRecommends: 'Children of the Pyre'—a disconcerting, haunting, yet important watch
    'Children of the Pyre' is currently streaming on MUBI

    Rajesh S Jala's National Award-winning documentary Children of the Pyre (2008) is all things disconcerting, unnerving, and haunting. It takes you to a part of India you either didn't know existed or considered too trivial to pay attention to. A perfect example of a cinematic piece that stays with you after credits roll, it may be an uncomfortable watch but is an important one.

    Testifies how truth is stranger, sometimes darker than fiction

    The documentary narrates the tale of seven boys, mostly prepubescent, who carve a life out of death at Varanasi's Manikarnika Ghat. Considered a supposed "gateway to heaven," Hindus believe that burning the deceased here paves the way for moksha or eternal salvation. The irony cuts through you: there is supposed life after death for some, while no mirth or merriment for select others.

    Devoid of agency, the boys slog for hours preparing pyres

    The boys slog through a perturbing job; they toil for hours on end and prepare numerous pyres. A despicable job that renders them "untouchable," it entraps them in a vicious cycle with a depressing dead-end. There's little to no choice or agency, and at a time when they should be in school, the kids are slapped with the haunting realization of existential angst daily.

    The job catalyzes their lack of innocence, sometimes, even humanity

    The documentary also explores how the job strips the kids of innocence and, sometimes, humanity. Seeing one body burn is spine-chilling enough, but one of the boys, Ravi, brags about having burnt "a thousand bodies" in his decade-long career." Of course, he doesn't fathom the gravitas of the situation and wears it like a badge of honor, but his statement makes our stomach turn.

    The boys practically live at Ghat, not at home

    For several kids, the Ghat becomes home—they spend more time with dead bodies than do with their family members. It is a terrifying reality, one that is tough to shake off one's mind. The logs of wood, the fiery red fires, the piles of corpses, and the wailing of grieving families fill their life. In the end, a place of death keeps them alive.

    Thankfully, not everything is dark and despondent

    The second half of the documentary, relatively lighter in approach, finally provides the film a chance to breathe. As the holy city springs to life in sequences dominated by dance, vivacity, and music, a feeling of relief finally washes over us as we realize that there's more to the boys' life than their soul-crushing, Kafkaesque nightmare. A much-needed contrast to the film's first half.

    The documentary leaves you with a sense of optimism

    This optimism carries on in the final act, too, when the boys express their wish to explore a life that doesn't involve looking at pyres. When they talk about their desire to break free from the shackles of drunkard, almost-nonexistent fathers, we realize that perhaps all is not lost, and their hearts still harbor a flame of hope, not ready to die anytime soon.

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Latest
    OTT releases

    Latest

    How to redeem Free Fire MAX codes for February 8 Garena Free Fire MAX
    Box office buzz: 5 exciting movies hitting theaters this Friday Box Office
    #Twinning! Check out these cute couple outfits for Valentine's Day Valentine's Day
    Happy birthday Jaideep Ahlawat! 5 lesser-known roles you cannot miss Jaideep Ahlawat

    OTT releases

    'The Family Man 3' gets Holi release? Manoj Bajpayee teases The Family Man
    Nivin Pauly starrer 'Mahaveeryar' gets an OTT release date Malayalam Movies
    OTT: 'The Last of Us' achieves record viewership  Hollywood
    Streaming in 2023: Every Disney+ Original title coming your way!  Disney+

    Love Entertainment News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    Entertainment Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023