“The Crowman” (2014) by Pratik Shetty

Unveiling the strange yet true story of a man showing love and affection for something unbelievable

Theme: Friendship

This week we look at friendship through the lens of compassion. There are many animal lovers in our country – those who feed stray dogs, cats and other animals daily. It takes a special kind of person to be mindful and sensitive towards the needs of animals. Here is the story of one such person.

Trikamji Thakkar is the pied-piper of crows in Mumbai. He works against all odds to feed these unfriendly birds who don’t think twice before pecking or biting him as their way of demanding their meals. Trikamji stands strong in his life-long commitment even in the face of objections from the local authorities who want him to stop.

Though the film is only a brief glimpse into the life of someone who seems like a fascinating character, it does manage to touch upon greater themes and ideas such as aging and loneliness; connection with nature; and compassion for those disregarded by society.