In the city of Kanpur lies a suburb named Jajmau that lends fame to the city with its leather industry. Wrapped in the smell of a mixture of hazardous chemicals like chromium and arsenic- there exists a prehistoric mound in this suburb that has witnessed the wheels of time affect Jajmau in all its glory and downfall. There seems to be an ancient structure (some call it a fort) buried inside this huge mound in Jajmau. However, the history of the mound seems to be lost. But an urban folk-tale is borne by the people of Jajmau, who labor tirelessly in the leather factories and who have made this mound their home. With the constant threat of demolitions haunting their everyday life, the qaramaat (mystical act) of the famed local saint Hazrat Maqdoom Shah Ala offers solace in the face of adversity.
Director – Shikher Pal
Shikher Pal, is an independent filmmaker interested in researching and telling stories that goes hitherto untold. He recently graduated from Film and Television Institute of India, Pune with a specialization in cinematography. ‘The Widow’s Son turns Storyteller’ is his debut short film, where he engages with an intriguing ancient structure buried inside a mound that exists in his hometown- Kanpur. The lost origin tale of the structure has given way to an urban folk tale, which somehow weaves its way into the harsh reality of the people who live near that structure.