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Child trafficking drama ‘Dear Men’ premiers globally
Helmed by filmmaker Keith Gomes, the film stars acclaimed actor Sayani Gupta.
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Bhavana P - Wed, 30, Jul 2025
- 15:44 EDT
- 16
'Dear Men' poster / X/ KeithgomesW
Dear Men, a short film which confronts the grim realities of child trafficking in India , premiered on July 30, coinciding with World Anti-Trafficking Day.
Helmed by filmmaker Keith Gomes, the film stars acclaimed actor Sayani Gupta and was released for free on Gomes’ official YouTube channel.
Also read: ‘Saare Jahan Se Accha’ to premiere Aug 13 on Netflix
The film is inspired by the real-life rescue mission of Dipesh Tank, a social activist and recipient of the Governor’s Medal, who went undercover as a filmmaker in Bihar to rescue trafficked minor girls. In Dear Men, Gupta portrays a character inspired by Tank, navigating the complex emotional landscape of justice and isolation.
“During COVID-19, I was researching to make a documentary, then I heard of Dipesh Tank’s rescue operation and knew instantly that I wanted to make this film, but it had to be done with honesty, restraint and respect. We shot the climax of ‘Dear Men’ making it feel like a first hand experience. Everything was grounded, and natural, because I didn’t want to impose cinema on reality,” Gomes told Variety in an exclusive interview.
Tank himself reflected on seeing his story adapted for the screen: “Watching ‘Dear Men’ shook me in ways I didn’t expect. It’s not a polished version of the story. It’s raw, intimate, close to the bone. Keith didn’t try to dramatize what happened and that takes sensitivity,” he said, as quoted by Variety.
The film features a global creative team, including Hollywood composer Alex Somers, Oscar-winner Resul Pookutty (sound design), and action director Stefan Richter. Producers include Mayukh Ray, Rahul Vishwakarma, Zaman Habib, and Sandeep Kamal.
Gomes is known for socially charged cinema like Shameless (India’s official entry for 2021 Oscars in the live action, short film category) and Doobie (endorsed by Amitabh Bachchan), which won two International awards.
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