BENGALURU: Phone addiction in children is a modern-day problem. What starts off as a way to engage children can blow up into an addiction, needing rehabilitation in extreme cases. Filmmaker Sridhar Shastri’s 'Unlock' reflects on this topic.
The story follows a young boy who is completely consumed by his smartphone, spending hours scrolling through social media and watching videos. His mother becomes concerned about his behaviour and its impact on his well-being. “I have seen cases where kids get really angry and lash out at their parents when they are not allowed to use smartphones. It’s scary to see smartphone addiction being so dangerous.
Luckily, there are centres for help. I wanted to share this story that raises awareness,” says Shastri.
The story ideation for the film began in 2018, and it took approximately six months to finalise the script. Shot largely in Bengaluru and Puducherry, the film was produced by popular cinematographer Satya Hegde, who has worked in movies like UTurn, 100 and Martin.
“During the Bangalore Film Festival, I showcased my work with Satya Hegde Films, and they were impressed with the concept. We partnered to bring the story to life on screen,” says Shastri, who just finished his first feature film Tenant which is ready for release.
The sensitive topic of the film persuaded Hegde to produce it. “The film carries a realistic portrayal and its timing couldn’t be more perfect to showcase it to audiences. Upon hearing about the concept and recognising the prevalence of similar issues in households, I felt the film is more than just a creative endeavour as it delivers a potent social message that can make a meaningful impact,” says Hegde.