Shwaas a Marathi film was screened at Bharat Bhavan on Wednesday. The screening marked the fifth day of Children’s Film Festival organized by Bharat Bhavan.
The film released in 2004. It was India's official entry to the 2004 Oscars and was ranked 6th in the Academy Award for Best Foreign language Film category. Its storyline is based on a real-life incident that happened in Pune. Shwaas won the National Award for best film in 2004.
The film is directed and written by Sandeep Sawant. Besides, it features Arun Nalawade, Ashwin Chitale, Sandeep Kulkarni and Amruta Subhash in lead roles.
Keshavram Shantaram Vichare lives in a small town called Parule in Maharashtra, along with his son, who works for the State Transport Bus company; his daughter-in-law, a housewife; and a seven year old grandson, Parsharam alias Parsha.
When Keshavram's son has an accident, he loses the use of his legs and his job and is unable to work for the bus company. It is around this time that the family notices that Parsha is having vision problems. Tests prove that Parsha has Retino-blastoma, an eye cancer, which is incurable, but in order to prevent it from spreading, Parsha must undergo surgery and as a result will never be able to see again.
Unable to make his mind up about the surgery, Keshavram dithers, but Dr. Sane persuades him to make Parsha undergo surgery without any cost. As a result Parsha is admitted in the hospital. On the day of the surgery, the operation is postponed as the surgeon is called away on an emergency.
later during the day when the hospital staff checks on Parsha, they find him and his grandfather missing. Dr. Sane, Ashawari, and Parsha's uncle, Divakar together with help of the hospital staff and the police start a hectic search for the patient
Confronted by an angry surgeon on their return, the grandfather states that he wanted to show Parshya the sights of the city for one last time.