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Apr 02, 2025

Award-winning short film by medical students puts forward often forgotten stories from hospitals | Pune News - The Indian Express

Staircases are present in nearly every part of our lives, quietly witnessing many moments and memories. This particular staircase guides one through a day in a hospital, a place that’s more than just

Staircases are present in nearly every part of our lives, quietly witnessing many moments and memories. This particular staircase guides one through a day in a hospital, a place that’s more than just its doctors and patients. It’s a space full of untold stories that unfold daily and in the short film, The Staircase: A Journey of Emotions, students of Smt Kashibai Navale Medical College and General Hospital have brought a few of them which are often overlooked or forgotten. Part of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Pune film festival, the short film has also bagged several awards.

Dr Ajay Patil, Forensic Medicine and Toxicology department head, who directed the 16-minute short film, said The Staircase is a poignant slice-of-life story that seeks to capture the essence of time. “Through this staircase, you’ll discover the hidden lives and emotions of those within the hospital—stories often overlooked or forgotten,” he said.

The story was conceptualised and created by a medical college student Faraj Shaikh and according to Dr Patil they saw a great potential in it to express different sides and stories of people associated with the medical field. “Be it a doctor or a patient, a paramedic staff or a watchman, everyone has their own story… and this storyline could provide light on each one of them,” Dr Sagar Patil, a resident doctor at the college who acted and co-directed the film along with Dr Malhar Thorat.

“This short film was made entirely by the students of the college. From scripting, all the way to the music and direction or even sweeping the sets, medical students and staff did everything,” Dr Sagar Patil said while adding that the motivation behind all this was Dr Ajay Patil’s vision to create an ecosystem and culture of short films in the college. “The college director Dr A V Bhore and dean Dr K B Patil helped and supported the project which received five international awards,” Dr Sagar Patil added.

Among the stories includes that of a man, Prashant, who lost his wife and children due to COVID in the hospital during the pandemic. “Since then, Prashant felt he had lost everything. He became an alcoholic and started going to the hospital where he lost his dear ones, talking to the Staircase. It was right in front of the staircase where Prashant’s wife and childrens’ bodies were kept. The film reflects upon how the staircases observe everything around them, yet remain silent,” Dr Patil said.

Yet another tale in the film is woven around Shekhar, a businessman who earned a lot of money, but went through a lot of personal tragedies. After losing his wife, his life revolves around his daughter who also dies tragically in the hospital. He gets psychologically disturbed when he hears another patient sharing the news of a newborn daughter to someone over a phone call. “Here again the staircase is a witness to these events,” Dr Ajay Patil who also pursued his passion from drama, theatre and films by completing two courses from Film and Television Institute of India and worked with noted actor and director Dr Mohan Agashe.

The five international awards won by the film are best short-film winner attainment award at Dreamz Catcher International Film Festival 2024, second best director award at Shunyatam International Film Festival 2024, best inspirational film award at Shunyatam International Film Festival 2024 and was among the official selection at International Kolkata Short-film festival 2024 and Abhijaat Short film festival 2024. IMA – Pune felicitated the entire team at an event held on March 30.

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More

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