A GIFT OF LIFE, India
BY MAM Movies
Media for Social Change and Transformation

When Deepak Bhai Patel was on his death bed and was advised urgent heart transplant to be saved, he found it extremely difficult to find an organ donor in India on time. He thus flew to South Africa and got his treatment done. After the successful operation, seemed like he really got a heart transformation. He thought he could afford the treatment and was thus saved, what happens to millions of people who cannot afford it? According to a research anywhere between two and three million Indians may have died in the last five years because they could not get an organ transplant. This new life inspired him to start ‘Shatayu foundation’ which today creates awareness about Organ Donation in India. Today it is possible for a single donor to donate organs and tissues that may help as many as 50 recipients.

This film was made in just 101 hours for ‘I am the change film project 2010′ by Sandeep Brahmbhatt and his team. Film’s lead actor Chanakya Vaidya reflects on the making of the film : “I did not understand the importance of what we had made before i saw people’s response to the video. I was excited, no doubt, since facing the camera for first time and talking in dialogues. But it really affected me real deep to see the outcome which made me feel that organ donation is so important. Not only we change the life of the one getting that organ but also his family and loved ones.”

For us in MAM Movies, we felt a deep sense of gratitude, when Filmmaker Sandeep shared this: “A girl was touched by our video and she decided to donate her organs, the best compliment we wanted to receive.”

Thankyou to all the filmmakers who have made and are continuing to tell stories of positive change and transformation.