You may remember 15-year-old Mallama. She is the same Danapura girl who fasted for three days to convince her family to build a toilet at home.
This is the story of a child artist who will portray the role of Mallamma in an upcoming Kannada film based upon the toilet crusader’s life called Sandaas (Latrine).
14-year-old Prathyaksha, who will step into Mallama’s shoes, has done what most actors wouldn’t. She has decided to offer her entire movie fee, expected to be around Rs 1 lakh, to build more toilets in Mallamma’s village.
“I’m not just inspired by Mallamma’s efforts but am determined to do something concrete for the cause. I’ll dedicate my fee to build toilets in Mallamma’s village,” Prathyaksha told the Times of India.
The class 9 student from Bengaluru, spent 40 days in Danapura for the film shooting which made her realise the gravity of the issue.
The problem of open defecation in Danapura is jarring. Over 80% of the existing 300 households in the village have no toilet. Young women and girls are at the mercy of the darkness in the night to defecate in a quiet and isolated place.
“The government offers Rs 10,000 to people after constructing toilets. But Danapura residents need money to build them,” a crew member told the publication.
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Inspired by the young girl’s move the entire film crew joined in the effort and had planned to build 100 toilets in the village.
“We want to join her in the cause. We’ll chip in to construct toilets,” film director Ajay Kumar A J told TOI.
We wish Prathyaksha the very best and hope her initiative in association with her entire film crew brings relief to the villagers of Danapura and makes Mallama proud!