No Water Land: A Documentary Exposing the Struggles Faced by Young Girls in Rural India

Childhood should be a time of enjoyment and learning in school. However, in many parts of India, young girls are burdened with the task of collecting water for their households at a very young age. As a result, they not only lose their innocence but are also forced to miss out on education, which is crucial for their overall development. The upcoming documentary film titled 'No Water Land' sheds light on the unfortunate realities faced by these innocent girls from rural India.

The award-winning Director Saumitra Singh and storyteller Abhi Raj Sharma have joined forces with producer Shaz Memon to create 'No Water Land,' a film that portrays the challenging lives of girls who are compelled to make the difficult choice between survival and pursuing an education for a better future.

The talented and passionate director Saumitra Singh recently revealed the title of his documentary project, 'No Water Land,' which captures the inspiring true story of Shaz Memon, a philanthropist based in the UK. Shaz Memon's NGO, 'Wells on Wheels,' tirelessly works towards the welfare and education of young girls in Maharashtra who have been denied basic educational opportunities due to the demands of water collection for their families.

The documentary's producer, Shaz Memon, emphasizes, "Every child has dreams, but not every child gets the chance to pursue them. I want to change that for all the young girls in rural India who are unfairly trapped in the vicious cycle of water collection. Their sacrifices go beyond the loss of childhood and the health issues they face. For most of them, carrying water on their heads is an unavoidable necessity dictated by their circumstances, leaving them with no option but to miss out on education. This burden weighs heavily on any innocent child."

Director Saumitra Singh shares, "I was deeply moved by the heart-wrenching stories of these young girls who have to travel 3-4 kilometers twice a day, carrying heavy pots on their heads to fetch water for their households. These responsibilities have pushed them away from education and other normal activities essential for their overall growth. All this is happening just 150 kilometers away from a metropolitan city like Mumbai. This reality shocked me, and I decided to share their stories with the world."

Saumitra and his team have completed the location scouting for the shoot, and the project is currently in the pre-production stage. He expresses gratitude to Sanjay Kapoor, who referred him to the producers and also served as the brand ambassador for 'Wells on Wheels.' Saumitra adds, "We recently completed a feature film with Sanjay, sir, and I'm thankful to him for allowing me to be part of this social project. I'm grateful to have Shaz Memon's guidance and the support of the 'Wells on Wheels' team from Nashik. These individuals are doing an incredible job."

Shaz Memon's NGO, 'Wells on Wheels,' will produce the documentary in collaboration with Shukar Studios and Shiprartz overseeing the production. Saumitra Singh will serve as the director, while Hasan Khan is associated with the project as an Executive Producer. Abhi Raj Sharma has taken on the responsibility of weaving the documentary, focusing on the plight of these girls.

Saumitra Singh, who previously worked with Naseeruddin Shah on his first short film, 'The Wallet,' which received over 70 awards, is also anticipating the release of his upcoming films 'Taxi No 24' featuring Mahesh Manjrekar and 'The House of Lies' starring Sanjay Kapoor.

Abhi Raj Sharma, the director of Shiprartz and writer of the documentary, expresses his gratitude for being involved in this noble cause. He says, "I established this company with my partners Amaninder Singh and Manbir Sandhu to produce stories deeply rooted in India, but I never imagined that we would be narrating this heart-wrenching tale of young girls who have to choose between survival and education."