Marking the International Day of the Girl Child, UNAIDS releases ‘Ghotul’, a short film inspired by Gond tribal wisdom that opens vital conversations about love, consent, and girls’ empowerment.
Love. Intimacy. Desire. Words that make many adults uneasy, especially when it comes to young people. But what if an ancient tribal community already had the answers to these so-called “modern” problems?
On the International Day of the Girl Child, UNAIDS released ‘Ghotul’, a 12-minute short film that shines light on just that. Drawing from the Gond Muria tribe’s age-old practice of open and respectful dialogue about love and growing up, the film reimagines how we talk about gender, sexuality, and choice in today’s world.
You can watch ‘Ghotul’ here:
The story draws inspiration from indigenous wisdom. Because behind the silence that surrounds adolescent sexuality lies a heartbreaking truth: every year, more than 21 million girls around the world become pregnant, with 11 million of them in India alone. And every week, 4,000 adolescent girls are infected with HIV.
The film, written by author and gender practitioner Shruti Johri, takes its name from the ‘Ghotul’, a traditional community space in Gond culture where young people learn about relationships, respect, and responsibility from their elders.
‘Ghotul’ stars Indira Tiwari known for ‘Serious Men’ and ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, alongside newcomer Puja Kulay. The visuals come alive under the lens of Tassaduq Hussain, celebrated cinematographer of ‘Omkara’ and ‘Kaminey’.
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“By knowing the facts and educating young people about their sexual health, we can help them feel safe and stay safe,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS.
Writer Shruti Johri adds a poetic touch: “Silence often does more harm than speech. ‘Ghotul’ is about breaking that silence, it invites us to imagine a world where our daughters are not guarded like clay pots but guided like rivers, free to love and live without shame.”
Swati Bhattacharya, who dreamed up the project, highlights the forgotten lessons of tribal wisdom: “Elders once spoke freely with adolescents about love and growing bodies, not to shame them, but to guide them. Today, when kids learn from the internet instead of family, ‘Ghotul’ reminds us to bring those honest talks back home.”
The film has already earned praise from cultural icons and advocates who see it as a fresh, necessary voice in the global fight for equality and awareness.