Damayanti Bhadra, a young filmmaker from Calcutta, has made Beyond the Alleys, a short documentary film that explores stories of resilience and hope in the city’s red light district.

Her film focuses on the hidden lives and unheard voices that populate these areas.

“The documentary depicts the wider cityscape, revealing the attitudes and perceptions of the general public toward these marginalised communities. These perspectives, shaped by social stigmas and cultural taboos, often add to the challenges faced by the people living in the redlight area, further isolating them from society,” said 23-year-old Damayanti.

Damayanti, who is now pursuing her MSc in sociology at the University of Bristol, said that Beyond the Alleys served both as a narrative and a social commentary.

The filmmaker, who has spent time engaging with the community and gaining the trust of its residents, presents an intimate portrait of women and children in Calcutta’s red light area.

Speaking about the documentary that's close to her heart, she said it begins with a close look at the lives within these alleys, offering viewers a glimpse into realities often overlooked by society.

“These women, often fighting for survival under harsh circumstances, display incredible strength and resilience, defying the odds to maintain their dignity and nurture hope for a better future. Similarly, the children portrayed in my documentary carry dreams for a different life, though they are often too young to fully understand the weight of the world around them,” Damayanti added.

She added that she has used the documentary to challenge perceptions, inviting audiences to reconsider their assumptions and see these individuals through a compassionate and nuanced lens.

She urges viewers to acknowledge the humanity within Calcutta’s red light area and to reconsider the societal structures that keep these communities on the fringes.

“I have come across a 70-year-old woman who was originally from Kalimpong. She has narrated the experience of her life. These women are individuals with dreams, families, and stories worth telling. Through this film, viewers are encouraged to listen to the voices that have long been silenced and to see beyond the labels often attached to marginalised groups,” she said.