Play

Children’s Day has no meaning as long as a 12-year-old talks about holding a “10 under 10 record.” That’s making 10 rotis in 10 minutes.

Competing for a position with many others, 12-going-on-18 Chotu appears before an interview panel to prove he’s the best child for the job.

And with that, this new video from The Viral Fever makes a powerful point about the irony of celebrating Children’s Day when child labour is still rampant.

The recruiters are searching for a domestic help for the Sharmas. During the interview, they ask Chotu about his work experience – four years, since the age of eight – and wonder about his aspirations, which were at odds with his parents’ dreams for him.

One of the recruiters asks whether he wanted to make a rocket, showing him a firework. Chotu responds, “Sir, yeh vala rocket nahi (Not this rocket).”

The last question is greeted with silence. “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

The video has been produced for a campaign titled “100 Million for 100 Million” started by Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s foundation.