Jab We Met 2 Team Screens Short Film 'White' At Gaiety Theatre, Packs a Punch about Drug Abuse
Shimla, February 28: The team behind Jab We Met 2 recently screened a thought-provoking short film White at the famous Gaiety Theatre in Shimla. The screening at 5:30 pm served to counter any growing ambivalence among youth to the hazards of drug addiction, and more specifically, heroin abuse. Addiction is a critical issue with deadly consequences for many in the region, and the film was well received by a large crowd.
The plot revolves around the story of chitta (heroin) and its impact on the lives of individuals, especially the younger generation. White masterfully examines how addiction takes away the sensitivity and humanity of its victims and drags them into a dark spiral. They were accompanied by DSP Shimla and they watched the film with the crowd.
In his address, DSP also emphasized the need for the community to come together in the battle against the rising drug abuse in the area. He especially noted the new Drug Free App, which provides individuals the option to report druggie locations and empower the police with contacts of addicts and also matures network of drug dealers involving addicts. This is meant to embolden citizens that we can take action with little to no fear of retribution which brings forth a better-mustered approach to handling drug abuse.
The occasion also recognized Sourav Agnihotri, a well-known director who made a name for himself in hit Indian flicks such as Welcome and Three Idiots. Agnihotri has received acclaim as the director of the film, winning praise for both his work in the industry and attempts to shed light on such pressing social issues.
The message of White could not have come sooner in an era where heroin addiction is on an all-time high in Himachal Pradesh. The movie’s subtle depiction of the susceptibility of young people to drug abuse really hit the audience hard. “The subject of the film is the need of the hour, and it has been presented brilliantly on screen,” said one of the film’s junior directors from the Jab We Met 2 team.
Although the film was praised for its straightforward nature and message, others felt it lacked emotional sticking power. Diary Times Shimla City Correspondent, Kartik Sharma, commented that even though the film was “short and crisp”, it failed to connect with the audience on an emotional level. Even so, the message of the film was still telling, urging viewers to see the urgency in the escalating drug epidemic.
The screening at Gaiety Theatre was the first time such a film was screened in the historic town, and the collaboration between filmmakers and law enforcement across the state underlined the need for the community to play a role in fighting the drug menace. A number of such initiatives are crucial to create awareness and build pressure on the people and government as heroin addiction in Himachal Pradesh is on the rise.
With consistent dedication and involvement from the community, such initiatives could potentially guide the younger generation away from the clutches of substance abuse and lead them towards a better tomorrow.
Kartik Sharma is a postgraduate from HPU who calls himself a slow learner but a curious researcher. He loves diving deep into topics like nature, music, bizarre stories, and counter-culture movements. If it’s unusual or thought-provoking, Kartik is sure to have an opinion on it. He works as a journalist for Diary Times, balancing his passion for unbiased reporting with his knack for getting ldigging out something with a different news angle. Kartik is also an environmentalist, running initiatives to tackle waste and feed those in need, proving that actions speak louder than headlines. Inspired by his dream to make his dad proud, Kartik writes with heart, humor, and a love for all things unique—though sometimes his stories take longer because he’s busy chasing the next big idea!
