Filmmaker Amitabh Prashar spent 28 years uncovering the dark reality of female infanticide in Bihar. His latest BBC documentary, The Midwife’s Confession, brings out this painful truth with raw emotion and deep commitment.
Prashar never lets go of his stories, and this one is no exception. Even before the film’s release, cases of newborn girls being buried or strangled surfaced again, proving this issue still exists. Growing up in Bihar, he witnessed firsthand the obsession with male heirs and dowry deaths.
His journey started in 1995 when he followed a case of a father killing his 11-month-old daughter. This led him to Anila, an NGO worker saving newborn girls, and midwife Siro, who opens up about the harsh reality in the film. But beyond confessions, it’s the characters that shape the story.
Despite the grim subject, the film offers hope. One storyline follows Monica, a girl adopted after being abandoned. Prashar admits that her willingness to share her story made all the difference in giving the film a positive ending.
Getting midwives to confess on camera was tough, but Prashar gained their trust over time. He believes trust is crucial in documentary filmmaking, just like in his earlier film, The Eyes of Darkness, which won him a National Award.
The film is sparking conversations online, with viewers even pledging to reject dowry. Prashar fears backlash against midwives, whom he sees as victims, but he remains hopeful. With millions watching and reacting, he believes documentary filmmaking is tough—but worth every challenge.