Thursday, August 12, 2021

To the makers of the movie Mimi



First of all, I would like to thank you for opening the dialogue about Down syndrome in our Indian society.  Thank you for showing that a child (in utero) with or without a disability deserves a chance to be born. Thank you for showing the varied reactions parents can have when receiving the diagnosis of Down syndrome for their unborn or just born child, even as honest as having talks of terminating the pregnancy.

I am a mom to a baby boy Laksh, who turned 4 on the weekend of August 1st when we watched your movie on netflix. I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the plot of the movie but I ended up with an ache in my heart to learn that even though the diagnosis was given with utmost surety (the words ‘has Down syndrome’ not ‘may have Down syndrome’ were used), the child did not end up having Down syndrome. The lead actor says, “ Bachche mein problem nahi Nikli but tumhari soch mein nikli” (the child didn’t end up having a problem but your thinking sure did). But the point is having Down syndrome is NOT a problem but thinking that way is.

 If only the child did in fact have Down syndrome and everything else in your story remained the same, it would have been perfect, just like my Laksh.

To the makers of the movie Mimi

First of all, I would like to thank you for opening the dialogue about Down syndrome in our Indian society.  Thank you for showing that a ch...