Mother India: Life Through the Eyes of the Orphan (2012)

Narrated by Grammy Award winner Rebecca St. James, MOTHER INDIA is a compelling documentary capturing the life and stories of 25 abandoned and orphaned children living along the railway in southern India. With over 31 million orphans in India, David Trotter and Shawn Scheinoha showed up hoping to find kids who would be willing to trust them enough to show them life through their eyes. Filmed over the course of two weeks in early 2012, Mother India gives a glimpse into the life of unaccompanied children as they seek to survive on a daily basis. While the film follows David and Shawn as they develop relationships with the entire group, in-depth interviews with seven of the kids provide insight into the magnitude of their individual pain and struggle. While other documentaries may focus on broad statistics, Mother India seeks to understand life through the eyes of the orphan... The challenge of begging to simply survive. The discomfort of sleeping on the streets. The danger and tragedies of train-hopping. The devastating results of addiction and sexual abuse. The joy found in the simplest things of life The interdependence of relationships. The hope of a second chance. As David and Shawn developed relationships with each of the kids, they were inspired to do more than just tell their stories. They saw the need, and they had to take action. Without hesitation, Suresh Kumar and Harvest India opened their arms to a 'family' of children that most seek to avoid. What transpires is both inspiring and heart-breaking.