Durga (Abhishek Parasher) Australia |

Durga
Abhishek Parasher
Australia. 2024. 15 min

A young woman tries to fashion an escape from her volatile household, as her husband and sister in law demand more in dowry payments.

ABHISHEK PARASHER

Abhishek Parasher is a Director currently studying at the Australian Film Television and Radio School, in Sydney where he is completing his Master’s in Directing. After working in every facet of the film industry, Abhishek found his love for directing through the Bachelor of Film program at SAE Creative Media Institute in Victoria, Australia which he completed in 2020.
For the development of Durga, Abhishek drew on the personal experiences of those around him and the testimonies from victims of
dowry violence, as he hopes to explore the devastating effects of an
epidemic not many associate with occurring in Australia.

DIRECTOR´S NOTE

Durga is a story that unfortunately hits close to home for many people in the Indian community. The prevalence of dowry, and the subsequent abuse, is one that many people in the community can identify with to differing extents. Nisha’s story gives us insight into the trials and tribulations women are routinely forced to endure at the hands of the dowry system. The vital component of the storytelling is communicating the sense of isolation and detachment that Nisha feels towards the world. The tension reflects the great inner anxiety she feels over putting herself in harm’s way. Over the course of the film, the team’s creative intention was to slowly show how Nisha is able to find her voice and assert herself, as she fashions an escape.

From script to screen, every element conform to create a overwhelming sense of pressure that threatens to erupt at any moment. The nuanced and specific performances of the actors aims to explore the complex mindsets that often surround dowry abuse cases. We went to great lengths to convey each characters reasoning, without justifying their actions or alleviating the severity of the consequences. Durga hopes to shed light on the still prevalent tradition of dowry and the potential for the abusive consequences it holds.

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