EXCLUSIVE | Chef Vikas Khanna on his short film ‘Pinky Ka Basta’: ‘57% girls drop-out upon reaching the 11th grade, the idea came when…’

Renowned chef Vikas Khanna has collaborated with Ek Desh, the social impact vertical of House of Omkar, to make a 3-min short film, titled ‘Pinky Ka Basta’. And in an exclusive interview with Firstpost, Khanna opened up about the idea and how much he relates to the story.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

How did the idea of Pinky Ka Bastaa come about?

The story of “Pinky Ka Basta” is inspired by a true incident. In fact, It all began while I was promoting Barefoot Empress, a documentary based on the life of Karthiyani Amma who went to school at 96 years. During the promotions, we visited a school to distribute school bags to the students. While we were leaving, we met a young girl outside and we asked her if she wanted a bag, to which she replied that she doesn’t since she has dropped off school. This prompted a conversation with the school’s Principal followed by research by the team. That’s when we discovered that significant % of girls in some parts of the country had not returned to school since the pandemic. Girls, more than boys, face heightened risks of abuse and sexual violence, increased burden of domestic care work and dropping out of educational institutions. Girls are also at a disadvantage when it comes to socializing and play, facing mental health challenges, and access to digital technology.

When resources are scarce at the household level, girls tend to be drawn into domestic and care work within households much more than boys. As the families’ income levels dropped amid the Covid-19 pandemic, female students have borne the brunt of disrupted education with all efforts to promote education previously going in reverse. As a consequence of closed schools and inequitable distribution of resources, more boys than girls have access to digital infrastructures such as mobile phones, internet services, radio, and media. It is pertinent to note that there exists a 50% gender gap in mobile internet users in India where 21% of women and 42% of men use mobile internet. This became even more evident due to the sudden shift from classroom learning to virtual learning, there was a ‘gender-based digital divide’ that made the situation difficult for adolescent girls. You will see that situation in the film as well and that was a reality during the pandemic. If the household had one phone, that was used by the boy of the house to study and not the girl in most cases. Such situations inspired us to create Pinky Ka Basta.

⁠What inspires you to raise awareness for education for adolescent girls?

● 57% girls drop-out upon reaching the 11th grade.

● Distance to school act as significant roadblock: For every hundred elementary schools (classes I to VIII) in rural India, there were only fourteen offering secondary (classes IX-X) and only six offering higher secondary grades (classes XI-XII).

● Infrastructural barriers for adolescent girls

● 46% schools DO NOT have functional WASH facilities ( Toilet, Drinking Water, Handwashing)

● 35% schools lack a Boundary wall

● 16.6% secondary schools in India without female teachers

● The disadvantages faced by girls is stark when it comes to the accessing education, sexual and reproductive health, food and nutrition, ensuring menstrual hygiene, and dealing with mobility and migration.

● Moreover, given the gender norms and practices that discriminate against the girl child, boys’ education is often prioritized, and girls are pulled out of schools, especially if poor families cannot afford to send both boys and girls to school at the same time.

I personally believe that harnessing the potential of women and girls can have a significant effect on societal and economic advancement. According to the World Bank, one year of secondary education can make a  25% difference in wages for women. “Pinky Ka Basta” aims to rally the common Indian to acknowledge the severity of this issue and work together for the better future for these girls.

How much can you relate to the story?

I personally 100% relate to this story. I have seen the discrimination happen between boys and girls and it’s heart breaking. I grew up in a household surrounded by women – my grandmother, mother, my aunts, my sister. The biggest influence in my life was Biji, my grandmother. She was not educated but she was extremely sharp and super intelligent. I always wonder if she had had the benefit of education, how far would she have come and how would she have changed the world. When I wanted to become a Chef, she had the foresight and was the one who believed in me the most. Even with House of Omkar, our film production house, we believe we can be the catalysts for driving social change through cinema. Our debut film, The Last Color was about widows being allowed to play with color to Barefoot Empress that captured the perseverance of Karthiyeni Amma who went to school at 94 years. Our upcoming film Imaginary Rain is yet again a story of resilience of a 65 year woman chef.

Your one takeaway from the short film?

As part of Pinky Ka Basta’s “Bags To School” campaign, we wanted to raise awareness and enable and empower young girls to become self reliant and independent. Our goal is to bring them back into the grid – whether it’s academics or skilling. As we concluded the film, I realized how privileged  I was to have access to opportunities that girls like Pinky lack.  Education is a fundamental right and essential for survival in today’s fast-paced world.

⁠What qualities should a filmmaker possess that are similar to those of a chef?

Both are an art form. I think that one thing that filmmakers and chefs have in common is the creativity and originality in their work. Just as a chef uses the right  ingredients to craft a perfect dish, a filmmaker must know how to narrate the right tale to their viewers. Both professions rely on their unique vision to create experiences that not only entertain the audiences but also educate and inspire.

Why do you think stories like Pinky Ka Basta are important for people to know?

With Pinky Ka Basta we aim to highlight the devastating impact of the pandemic on education for adolescent girls, bringing forth their ongoing struggles in accessing educational opportunities. This story sheds light on the  countless number of girls who, due to the crisis, have had to abandon their schooling, facing early marriages or being forced into domestic work! We believe that educating a girl helps us build the future, and empower the next generation in making a better tomorrow. An educated girl contributes to reducing child marriages, alleviating poverty, and increasing women’s participation in  society. Ultimately, this empowerment leads to a significant economic impact.

Working as an Entertainment journalist for over five years, covering stories, reporting, and interviewing various film personalities of the film industry see more