Kolkata: A film based on a true story on organ donation from the state has secured the second prize at an international film festival in the national capital that concluded recently. The film has been titled after a 12-year-old boy, Umang Galada, who had become the youngest deceased organ donor in the state last year.
The festival had featured films on organ donation in an attempt to endorse the noble cause of saving lives. The class VII student had to undergo organ transplantation after suffering from renal failure. His mother donated one of her kidneys to save the child. The boy, however, died a few days after the surgery. Despite the irreparable loss and grief they suffered, the parents of the deceased boy had donated his organs. The parents are now focusing on spreading awareness on organ donation. In fact, both of the parents and Umang’s sibling also acted in the film, which has a duration of 15 minutes. “Our film is based on true events,” said VM Swamy of Bengal Organ Donation Society (BODS). The film was conceptualised by the organisation. The two-day Vardaan International Film Festival featured around 62 films from across India and abroad.“This is the first international film festival on organ donation. Umang’s parents came forward to act in the film to raise awareness about organ donation,” said critical care and organ transplant consultant, Indrajeet Tiway, chairman, BODS. The film brings out the extraordinary courage of Umang’s mother. She didn’t get bogged down by her personal loss. Rather, she brought hope into the lives of others. Interestingly, she gave consent to the organ donation at a time when she was still in the hospital recuperating from the surgery herself.
