Only if the Baby Cries... is a 2024 Indian documentary short film directed by Shadab Farooq, which won the Best Short Film award at the 28th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival. The documentary, produced by Rajiv Mehrotra under the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT) with Aparna Sanyal as executive producer, explores the lives of residents in Dhadkai, a remote village in the Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, India. In Dhadkai, a significant portion of the population is affected by congenital hearing and speech disabilities.[1]
| Only if the Baby Cries... | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Shadab Farooq |
| Produced by | Rajiv Mehrotra |
| Cinematography | Sahib Syed Goni |
| Edited by | Sahib Syed Goni, Shadab Farooq |
| Music by | Dilbar Yousuf, Fareed Pahalgami |
Production company | Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT India) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 15 minutes |
| Country | India |
Synopsis
edit"Only if the Baby Cries..." follows a young couple, Misra Khatoon and Mohammad Iqbal, as they prepare for the birth of their child. In Dhadkai, many villagers use a traditional method to determine if a newborn has hearing abilities. According to local custom, villagers create loud noises around the newborn to test their hearing response, as crying with closed eyes is believed to be a sign of potential deafness. The documentary captures this ritual while also exploring the community's daily lives and unique challenges.[2]
Production
editThe documentary was produced by Rajiv Mehrotra under the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT) and received support as part of the Doc_Commune 2023–24 initiative. Shadab Farooq directed the film, with cinematography by Sahib Syed Goni and sound design by Caster Rinoy Gomez. Anzer Ayoob, who served as the location manager and researcher, was instrumental in bringing authentic insights into the village and its people.[3][4]
Release and Reception
edit"Only if the Baby Cries..." premiered at the 28th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival in the Czech Republic, where it won the Best Short Film Award in the festival’s Short Joy section.[4] The film received positive recognition for its intimate portrayal of Dhadkai village and its unique tradition associated with testing newborns for hearing and speech abilities.[5][6]
The film has been highlighted as a significant accomplishment for filmmakers from the Chenab Valley region, with particular praise for the director Shadab Farooq, cinematographer Sahib Syed Goni, and location manager Anzer Ayoob, all of whom are from Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir.[7] The film’s recognition has been seen as a landmark achievement, bringing international attention to a lesser-known community in the Himalayan region.[8][9]
Only if the Baby Cries... has received positive reviews for its sensitive portrayal of the lives of residents in Dhadkai, a village grappling with high rates of congenital hearing and speech disabilities. The Bold Voice praised the film for its immersive cinematography and evocative sound design, noting that it captures the unique customs surrounding childbirth in the village while providing a window into the community's resilience. However, the review also highlighted that the film's focus on atmosphere and tradition may leave some viewers wanting more context regarding the underlying causes of the disabilities and the potential for outside intervention.[10]
Recognition at the 2025 TOTO Short Film Awards
editOnly if the Baby Cries... was longlisted for the 2025 TOTO Short Film Awards, a prestigious recognition for emerging filmmakers in India. The documentary, directed by Shadab Farooq and created in collaboration with Anzer Ayoob and Sahib Goni, was selected from a pool of 140 submissions and was one of 27 entries to make it to the longlist. The TOTO Short Film Awards, established in 2013 and supported by O2 Financials, celebrate excellence in short-form filmmaking across genres, including documentary, fiction, animation, and experimental works.[11]
Crew
edit- Producer: Rajiv Mehrotra
- Executive producer: Aparna Sanyal
- Assistant producer: Harjas Singh
- Cinematographer: Sahib Syed Goni
- Sound designer and mixer: Caster Rinoy Gomez
- Location manager and researcher: Anzer Ayoob
- Editors: Sahib Syed Goni, Shadab Farooq
- Musicians and singers: Dilbar Yousuf, Fareed Pahalgami
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Documentary 'Only if the Baby Cries' wins International Award". Daily Excelsior. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Doda's documentary "Only if the baby cries" shines at Ji.Hlava Film Festival". Brighter Kashmir. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ Pampori, Abid (13 October 2024). "Documentary on Doda's Dhadkai village selected for International Documentary Film Festival". The News Now Epaper. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ a b "The 28th Ji.hlava has been kicked off by Ms. President. Only If the Baby Cries... won the best short documentary". Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "India's "silent" village of deaf-mutes". Reuters. 30 June 2009. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Doda filmmakers shine: 'Only If the Baby Cries…' wins international award at Ji.hlava Film Festival". Kashmir News Observer. 29 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Jammu: डॉक्यूमेंट्री 'ओनली इफ द बेबी क्राईज़' ने अंतर्राष्ट्रीय पुरस्कार जीता". Janta Se Rishta. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ Farooq, Babar (27 October 2024). "Doda's Only if the Baby Cries... Wins International Acclaims at Ji.hlava Festival". State Observer. State Observer. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
- ^ Tanjina Islam liraa (28 October 2024). "Doda filmmakers shine: 'Only If the Baby Cries…' wins international award at Ji.hlava Film Festival". The Kashmir Upfront. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
- ^ "Film Review: Exploring Silence and Tradition in "Only if the Baby Cries…"". The Bold Voice. 27 October 2024.
- ^ "J&K Filmmaker Shadab Farooq's *Only if the Baby Cries...* earns spot on TOTO Short Film Awards Longlist". JK MONITOR. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 20 November 2024.