Before Chithha’s OTT release, stream these 5 Indian films that touched upon child abuse

Siddharth starrer Chithha is a gripping thriller film that addresses the issue of child abuse. The SU Arun Kumar directorial is based on a man whose whole life comes crashing down when his eight-year-old niece goes missing. What unfolds next is how far he goes to save his loved one. The film - which also features Sahasra Shree, Nimisha Sajayan and Anjali Nair in key roles - received critical acclaim for its narration and performances. After a successful run at the box office, the movie is now making its digital premiere on Disney+ Hotstar, starting from November 17.

Here are five films streaming on OTT that touch upon the topic of child abuse/child trafficking.

1. Kahaani 2 (Hindi)

Streaming on: ZEE5

Directed by Sujoy Ghosh, Kahaani 2 is a standalone film that narrates the story of Vidya Sinha (Vidya Balan), who lives in a small town with Minnie, a girl with paralysis. When someone kidnaps Minnie, Vidya tries to save her, but she meets with an accident on the way, landing herself in a hospital. The film addresses the topic of child abuse that one suffers in their own household, and how Vidya’s character tackles all the obstacles to save her daughter. The movie also features Jugal Hansraj, Kharaj Mukherjee and Tunisha Sharma.

2. Thira (Malayalam)

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

One of the best films helmed by Vineeth Sreenivasan, Thira is a must-watch for the gripping performances by Shobana Pillai and Dhyan Sreenivasan. The film takes a turn when a human trafficking ring kidnaps a group of girls from a destitute shelter run by Dr Rohini (Shobana). She sets out to search for them, with the help of Naveen (Dhyan), a young man whose sister has also been abducted by the same group. Although the film failed to succeed at the box office, the movie was critically acclaimed for its intriguing storyline and performances by the lead actors.

3. Monsoon Wedding (English/Hindi)

Streaming on: YouTube

The story of Mira Nair-directed Monsoon Wedding revolves around chaotic and boisterous Punjabi wedding preparations. The film takes us through the lives of Lalit (Naseeruddin Shah) and his family, who are arranging a wedding for his daughter Aditi. The film also sheds light on child abuse, and how the family decides to cope with that trauma in the end. Shefali Shah’s performance is lauded, among others. The comedy drama movie went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination. It also features Lillete Dubey and Vasundhara Das in leading roles.

4. Highway (Hindi)

Streaming on: Disney+ Hotstar

A breakthrough film in Alia Bhatt’s career, Imtiaz Ali’s road drama Highway is counted among the best movies that address the issue of child abuse and pedophilia. The film narrates the story of Veera (Alia), a young bride-to-be, who is kidnapped by Mahabir (Randeep Hooda), and his men a day before her wedding. Far from being terrified of her abductor, Veera discovers a liberating life where she confesses the traumas from her past. It became a critically acclaimed film, with Alia’s performance garnering a lot of praise from the audience.

Test: Madhavan, Siddharth and Nayanthara feature in a new intense poster 

5. Mardaani (Hindi)

Streaming on: Amazon Prime Video

Pradeep Sarkar’s Mardaani revolves around a female cop, named Shivani Shivaji Roy (Rani Mukerji), who is a determined police officer working at a Mumbai Crime Branch unit. She is in search of a missing teenage girl, which leads her to the depraved world of child trafficking. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between the officer and the child-trafficking mafia.

The movie was well received for its compelling storyline and Rani’s performance. Mardaani also features Jisshu Sengupta, Tahir Raj Bhasin and Saanand Verma in pivotal roles.

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