Rabin is a son of a sex worker. Instead of becoming a pimp, he wants to be screen-play writer and film director. He writes the story of their own agony and ecstasy.
Meena is a sex worker, but she has become a creative part of Rabin's team. She aspires to be a sewing tutor and leads the women in the community. She doesn't want the second generation to join sex work any longer.
Afsara is the daughter of a sex worker. However, she did not enter the profession. Despite facing considerable resistance from her father, she aspires to become an actress.
Bilkis is a community girl who believes that sex work is not a solution for any woman. She wishes to live with dignity. She runs her own enterprise and delivers outstanding performances in Rabin's film.
Rupesh the editor and cinematographer of Rabin's team. He also grew in the brothel. Self-taught by youtube tutorial video, he is extremely talented in cinematography and executes community stories on screen.
Bipuljit Basu, a Sundance Institute and IDFA grantee, is a filmmaker specializing in Indian factual cinema, reality cinema, and documentaries. A postgraduate in Social Development, Bipuljit uncovers unexplored narratives with significant social relevance in popular culture, aiming to create meaningful impact across broader social spectrums. He firmly believes in showcasing inclusion as a powerful tool for social change.
Help empower a creative community of sex workers who are transforming lives through cinema
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Visit the Cookie Policy pageRedlight to Limelight follows a group of young children who are passionately weaving stories with mothers and sisters through their native video production unit called CAM ON to cultivate a meaningful change in the lives of a special community of sex workers in the brothel of Kalighat, Kolkata. Keeping aside the ghosts of their grimy reality and who they were, women and children get immersed in an incredible joy of storytelling with a burning desire to turn the brothel into a better place.
The women and youngsters you’ve seen in are more than survivors — they are artists, mothers, leaders, and visionaries reclaiming their stories. Stepping out of the margins, they’re building a creative enterprise rooted in dignity, expression, and hope. But this transformation needs more than courage — it needs collective support.
By contributing to their journey, you’re not offering charity, but investing in resilience, independence, and a future where their voices aren’t just heard, but celebrated. Help us keep the lights on — and their dreams alive.
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