War—a three-letter word that profoundly impacts the adult world. For many, it brings the duty to fight or to stay away and protect their world, which teeters on the edge of destruction should the battle at the borders take a wrong turn. But not all wars are fought on distant frontlines; some take place in the alleys next door or in familiar places we once called home. The toll of war, and its cost, is often narrated from the perspective of adults involved. Yet, what the world—and especially the parties in conflict—often ignore are the children. In 1924: The Kakori Project, award-winning short film director Prataya Saha presents a fresh perspective on a significant historical event, told through the eyes of an innocent child who never asked for a part in the struggle yet lost everything because of it. The film is currently making rounds in the festival circuit.

1924: The Kakori Project Analysis

Tune into the news or scroll through social media, and you’ll see countless appeals for help to end wars. Even more heart-wrenching are the lives of innocent children, who know nothing of war but suffer its dire consequences, sacrificed to serve the ambitions of powerful individuals vying for dominance. Children cry out for help, fighting to stay alive, suffering from hunger, and often fading away unheard by those in power. Prataya Saha's 1924: The Kakori Project, set a hundred years ago, is now more relevant than ever. It highlights the impact of war on children, who are too often disregarded, their suffering deemed “collateral damage” in the eyes of those who see themselves as fighting for a greater cause.

Written by Prataya Saha, 1924: The Kakori Project takes us back to a crucial period in India’s fight for independence. Twenty years before India achieved freedom, revolutionaries in Kakori executed a train heist, looting a train carrying taxes collected in India for the British treasury. This incident, known as the Kakori Conspiracy, occurred in 1925—a year after the film's setting. This dark chapter captures the depth of anger and rebellion brewing in the nation. Prataya opens his film with a scene of a man sitting by a riverbank, reading Anandmath (The Abbey of Bliss) by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, a book embodying the spirit of rebellion that underpins the film's narrative.

As the man reads, another approaches and asks if he is ready to kill someone. The reader tosses his book aside and goes with him. Although the audience understands that the planned assassination will benefit the rebel cause, we learn that the target’s young daughter will be left orphaned. This moment is especially powerful, as it shows Gandhi urging the nation toward peaceful resistance against the British. Yet, the men onscreen are plotting a murder, even as they hold the hand of the man’s daughter, unaware of the tragedy about to unfold.

Prataya’s filmmaking shines here, presenting not just a man killing another for revenge but a little girl bearing witness to her father’s murder. She’s left in trauma, taken away from her father’s lifeless body with no understanding of what has just happened. Her future remains uncertain, whether good or bad, yet an irreparable scar is left on her psyche, symbolized by the blood splatters on her face.

Prataya Saha’s attention to detail brings the old world to life through authentic settings, costumes, lighting, and actors who perfectly embody their roles. The choice to let silence take precedence over dialogue allows the tension to simmer, making it even more impactful. The only downside to 1924: The Kakori Project is its short runtime of just five minutes. This episode in India’s Independence Movement is one of the most haunting, tragic, and dramatic events, and it deserves a deeper exploration. Watching the film might inspire you to learn more about this pivotal moment in history.

The film is currently touring the festival circuit. 

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