Rooting for Roona

The remarkable and heartwarming 2020 movie, Rooting for Roona, is an Indian documentary film revolving around the life of a resilient little girl named Roona Begum. The documentary is a poignant reflection of her personal journey, providing an intimate glance into her life from her unique medical condition to her eventual rise to international fame. Directed by the duo of Pavitra Chalam and Akshay Shankar, the movie is a true testament to the adage, ‘where there is life, there is hope'.

This emotionally charged narrative begins in the backwaters of Tripura, a small town based in the North-Eastern part of India where Roona Begum was born. From an early age, Roona was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, a critical medical condition that causes severe swelling of the head due to a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. Living in impoverished conditions, her family could neither afford care for her debilitating condition nor adequate medical intervention.

The film magnificently explores this tragic reality that leaves the audience deeply moved. Roona’s story, however, takes a dramatic turn when the picture of her larger-than-usual head becomes viral over social media. This ignites an unlikely light at the end of the tunnel as her story spreads far and wide, touching hearts globally.

What follows is an unprecedented outpouring of support and help from unexpected quarters. The documentary follows Roona's tumultuous journey as she receives medical help from renowned neurosurgeons and experts. The story serves as a paradoxical commentary on how global publicity can uplift someone from dire circumstances to being the center of a worldwide campaign for support.

The cinematography of Rooting for Roona is enthralling and it beautifully captures the dichotomy of lives in rural India. The reels of the movie roll contrastingly through two very different worlds. One is Roona's small, confined world where her family struggles in distressed conditions, and the other — the modern medical facilities with sophisticated technologies that eventually become a part of Roona’s life's journey.

While the major part of the movie effectively focuses on the extraordinary medical journey of Roona, it concurrently depicts the unyielding love of her parents. Their enduring affection, despite their tragic hardships, adds another layer to this deeply influential narrative. The audience sees a portrayal of steadfast determination from Roona's parents, especially her mother, Fatima Begum. Despite their powerlessness to provide medical help for their daughter, their unswerving attempt to provide her with a normal life in spite of the odds stands testament to their steel-like resolve.

In equal parts inspiring and gut-wrenching, this documentary weaves together real-life narratives, expert interviews, and actual footage to capture Roona’s journey. The film explores the implications of her condition and the aftermath of her surgeries, and what it eventually means to her family.

Rooting for Roona, as a film, addresses a plethora of aspects. On one end is the stark reality of medical negligence and unawareness in rural India, and on the other end is an optimistic testament to human resilience. It also paints a grim picture of how economic and social disparities can be fatal for those who are unable to afford proper healthcare.

Extolled for its emotional depth and portrayal of courage, Rooting for Roona is a stark revelation of a story that would have otherwise remained unobserved. It stands as a beacon of hope in the face of adversity and a testament to mankind’s capacity for compassion and the everlasting will to survive against all odds. This story is not just about Roona's medical triumph, but it is also a testament to a mother’s unfaltering love, a family's determination, and the world's benevolence.