Saleem Hadi brings us a heart-warming story about the struggles of a young teenage girl in repressive Singapore. The Anklet (Kolusu) is the story of a 15 year old free-spirited teenager who struggles for the liberty to make her own choices and have her own identity. She must surrender her freedom when she is forced to wear an ankle tag for an offense she unintentionally committed. Her controlling parents assume that their decisions are the ideal choice for her, but her unspoken anger morphs into an uncontrollable rage. This film explores and creates awareness about the relationship-battles parents and teenagers of today must undergo.
See the US Premiere of ‘The Anklet’ on March 1, 2018 @2:00pm at Cinema Village (22 East 12th Street) at New York City’s 7th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival. Winter Film Awards’ Vashti Persaud spoke to Saleem Hadi about his film.
Vashti Persaud: How did you came about the concept of making the film The Anklet?
Saleem Hadi: In my earlier films, the themes and plots revolved around my world, my struggles and my challenges in life. As I dwelled deeper into this dynamic and powerful art form, I realized filmmaking is more than an outlet to express my feelings alone. It was also an opportunity to address issues beyond my world. In my recent years, I became more of an observer. I started noticing newer issues that needed to be spoken about.
One such issue was the increasing numbers of teenage offenders in Singapore. I came across many youths wearing ankle tags, which stirred a curiosity in me. Being an educator and a media trainer who had conducted filmmaking programs in one of Singapore’s prisons for inmates, I had spotted the inmates wearing ankle tags. However, it was very alarming for me to see some teenagers in Secondary schools wearing them. When I asked those teenagers, I got to know the reasons – those tags were a means to detect their movements. Why them? Because they had committed offenses that are lawfully punishable if they are above 18. But since these youths are minors, they are kept under a surveillance for a period of 3-6 months before the tags are removed.
So I decided to explore what made them to commit those offenses. I found out that those offenses took place not solely with an intention to commit a crime but in a fit of anger that was built over a long time. The Anklet is a film that encompasses the stories of some youths I had spoken to as part of my research for this film. It details the story of a girl pushed to her limit one day and who snaps unknowingly.
Vashti: How was the experience making this film?
Saleem: The experience was truly rewarding for me and my team. Once D. Piriyadarisini, my invaluable co-writer and I were done with the script, identifying the lead actress, Suganthi Periasamy , a very co-operative student from a local university, was not a problem at all. Though she was a first timer, she was very receptive to ideas from me and the entire team. The biggest challenge was in the casting of the mother. We had to five different mothers who expressed interest to play the part but all turned down the opportunity two weeks before the production. It was really not helping me and my planning team and we were all losing our patience with such artistes. However, with the grace of God, I was able to convince my good friend, Mumtaz Maricar, an actress from local TV programs, to play the part. From then, everything else fell in place. I am very contented with the final film.
Vashti: What is the experience you want the audience to get from this film?
Saleem: Every film would garner different responses from different audience. It is highly dependent of their life experiences too. I am truly neutral on this and I respect all my audience responses and welcome them to share with me their take away from this film.
Vashti: What have you learned in the process in making this film?
Saleem: Patience is key in film making. You need to have a solid team who believes in your vision and help you to making it a reality.
https://youtu.be/rsr5uUX0BE0
Vashti Persaud
Writer & Filmmaker Vashti Persaud was born and raised in Guyana South America. Her passion for films and storytelling has motivated her to move to the United States in order to attend the New York Film Academy, where she has studied Screenwriting and Filmmaking. Vashti graduated with Excellence and has continued on the journey with storytelling and creativity by volunteering in film festival production and writing her own scripts and producing her own projects.
Vashti has always viewed film as an abstract of life and a form as to how we connect with each other.
About Winter Film Awards
New York City’s 7th Annual Winter Film Awards International Film Festival runs February 22-March 3 2018. Check out our jam-packed lineup of 93 fantastic films in all genres from 31 countries, including Animation, Drama, Comedy, Thriller, Horror, Documentary and Music Video. Hollywood might ignore women and people of color, but Winter Film Awards celebrates everyone!
Winter Film Awards is an all volunteer, minority- and women-owned registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2011 in New York City by a group of filmmakers and enthusiasts. The program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the NY State Council on the Arts.
