![HALKAA (PICHKU HALKAA (PICHKU](https://www.kidsfirst.org/kidsfirst/images/db/titles/218265.jpg)
The story is really terrific. It follows Pichku, a young boy from the slums of India, an area so poor that they don't have indoor toilets so most people use the bathroom outside. Pichku is different from many of the other people from his slum in that he doesn't want to use the bathroom in public. So Pichku and another young boy decide to build a bathroom for the village. In order to do so, they have to raise money by working various jobs around town such as recycling trash.
I found myself rooting for Pichku because, once he sees that no one will give him the thing he wants most, that he decides to go after it himself. There are some scenes where the rich kids come down to the slums to see how the other half lives and they never make fun of Pichku and his friends. In fact, quite the opposite happens. There is a scene where Pichku and Gopi sneak into the rich kid's school and walk through the halls and they are absolutely awestruck. The only character that I didn't care for is Pichku's father. I know what they were going for, but in some parts it feels as if they drop the ball with him several times.
The cinematography is very well done, the background music is excellent and the locations are well chosen. They show both sides of the wage gap, from the small huts where Pichku and his family live to the clean interiors of modern buildings. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this film, except for perhaps how Pichku's father is portrayed.
The film is in Hindi with English subtitles. There is some mild cursing which they censor out in the subtitles. There is also a scene where a man is urinating but you do not see his private parts. This is exactly the type of film that the KIDS FIRST! Film Festival seeks to showcase. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend it to kids ages 10 to 18. The filmmaker is quite accomplished and has received some very prestigious awards for his work including one of the highest civilian honors of India, "Padmashree" in 2016, by the President of India. Reviewed by Angel U., and Julie S., KIDS FIRST! Adult Jurors.
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