Indianapolis International Film Festival 2009

Andheri,' the name of the most densely populated neighborhood of the city of Mumbai, is also the word for "Darkness" in the local language. Ever since she was a little girl, Anita has led a quiet, lonely existence as a live-in maid for the cantankerous old Mrs. Kapoor. Now a young woman she dreams of an independent life in the city outside her window. But she fears the harsh world of Mumbai with its crowds, anonymity, and chaos. It is not an easy world to brave when you're a woman with no money and no prospects. One day, sent out to buy massage oil by Mrs. Kapoor, Anita impulsively decides to run away. On a crowded Mumbai city bus she sits down next to a stranger, Salma, a gregarious young bride new to Mumbai. Salma, with her sparkling positivity slowly gets Anita to open up and the girls start to strike a rare human connection. Just as Anita begins to feel hopeful about the new life she is embarking on, everything is interrupted by an accident. In the moments of the aftermath, Anita witnesses the cruelty of fate. She is forced to face her worst fears and make a decision about her future.The story of this short film is based on true events. Shot on crowded Mumbai streets and in a real city bus with scores of non-actors, the film offers a gritty, realistic depiction of the city of Mumbai.