Some Stories Around Witches

Story

Some Stories Around Witches is directed by Lipika Singh Darai and produced by the Public Service Broadcasting Trust (PSBT). The film explores the humanitarian crisis surrounding witch-hunting in Odisha, portraying the lives of women accused, ostracized, and tortured for being labeled as “witches.” It takes viewers closer to the victims and communities affected by this practice, highlighting the intersection of superstition, patriarchy, and social injustice.
Notes & Extra Info: The documentary won three National Film Awards and was screened at international festivals in Cumberland (USA), Kiev (Ukraine), Golemog (Serbia), Harare (Zimbabwe), Mumbai, and Thrissur (India). Lipika Singh Darai, an alumnus of the Film and Television Institute of India, returned to Odisha after working in Mumbai to make socially conscious films. The film is praised for its sensitive cinematography by Indraneel Lahiri and its powerful social commentary, making it a landmark in Indian documentary cinema.