RAQS-E- KHAMOSHA

This short film delves into the inner world of a former theatre artist living with schizophrenia, a mental illness that gradually erodes his connection to reality. Now isolated and disoriented, he spends his days battling anxiety and relying on small rituals to maintain a sense of control, until he begins recording himself with an old camera that becomes a silent witness to his unraveling mind. Through the lens, we observe his conversations with unseen figures and his blurred perception of reality, while his family and society respond with frustration, judgment, and misunderstanding rather than care. When he later watches the footage and realizes he has been alone all along, the devastating truth of his illness becomes clear. The film ultimately reflects on society’s failure to show empathy toward mental illness, urging compassion over stigma and judgment.