A Sirona care & health doctor is offering people the opportunity to join a free screening of a film she has co-produced to raise awareness of autism.
The film is a dramatisation of bringing up a child with autism and the determination of a parent to identify their child’s strengths.
Called Varnapatala (Spectrum), it is filmed in the Kannada language with English subtitles and is being shown to mark World Autism Acceptance Week promoted by the National Autistic Society.
Consultant Community Paediatrician, Dr Saraswati Hosdurga, has made the film with award-winning Indian director Chethan Mundadi. Dr Hosdurga said, “I am passionate about children and young people with autism and while autism is a global problem, this condition is less well known in some countries, such as India.
“I wanted to create awareness about autism in India and I thought the best way to get this positive message across would be in a film rather than a documentary. Having worked with children and young people with autism, I felt able, with others, to bring the reality of the issue to the screen.”
The film’s title translates as Spectrum and represents the idea that if the right input is given to children and young people with autism, then rainbows can be the output from them.
The film was made in 2020 and is produced by Dr Hosdurga who is based in Bristol, UK, and Kavitha Santhosh, based in Bengaluru, India.
Scott Cinemas in Henleaze is hosting the screening, which is taking place Sunday 26 March at 11am. The film is being shown as part of World Autism Awareness Week– running from the 27 March – 2 April 2023.
For more details and to reserve a ticket to the screening and Q and A, please see the Eventbrite page www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/577092317657 Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis.