“I spent nights behind rickshaws, evicted from my home by the man who once promised to protect me.”
Her words linger long after they’re spoken. They belong to a survivor of gender-based violence. One of many. Her story is raw and difficult, but also one of strength and recovery. It shows us what becomes possible when someone reaches out and says, “You’re not alone.”
Breaking the Cycle – Ending Gender-Based Violence through Community Action is a moving short film produced by us for SNEHA (Society for Nutrition, Education, and Health Action). Shot in Mumbai’s informal settlements, it brings to life real stories of women who’ve endured violence and of the people standing with them to break that cycle.
The Silent Epidemic
Gender-based violence is far more common than we think. The World Health Organisation estimates that nearly one in three women across the globe has faced physical or sexual abuse. In many communities, it is treated as private, or worse, normal.
Nearly one in three women across the globe have faced physical or sexual abuse.
In the film, Nikhat Shaikh, who heads SNEHA’s programme on preventing violence against women and children, talks about how deeply patriarchy is embedded in everyday life and how it silences those who need help the most.
One story the film follows is particularly haunting. A woman lived for years with a husband who was mentally unwell and violent. No one stepped in. She attempted suicide more than once. Then, one day, a SNEHA volunteer crossed her path. That moment changed everything. Her husband received treatment, and she received the support she needed to start again. Today, she helps other women in her neighbourhood do the same.
A Shared Struggle
But she isn’t alone. Behind each door in the settlements where SNEHA works, there are similar stories, some spoken, many not. These are families where violence is hidden by walls, shame, and silence. For many survivors, there is no safe space. No one to confide in. No one to act.
For many survivors, there is no safe space. No one to confide in. No one to act.
That’s why community support is so critical. Because in places where formal systems often fail, change has to begin with people themselves.
When Communities Take Charge
At the heart of SNEHA’s work is a simple idea: communities can protect their own. The organisation trains women (called Sanginis) and men (called Mitras) to become first responders, people who understand what violence looks like, how to listen, and where to turn for help.
One Sangini shares in the film how training gave her the tools to act: “We learnt about laws, rights, the types of violence, and what we could do to help.” Mitras like Niyaz Sayyed describe how they used street plays and murals to build trust. At first, no one came forward. Today, they receive regular reports from women who know they’ll be heard.
The film captures these quiet acts of courage: a volunteer walking beside a survivor to the police station, another sitting in a cramped room offering reassurance, and a group of men leading awareness drives in their area. It’s this slow, steady work that’s starting to shift what is and isn’t acceptable.
Support from All Sides
SNEHA also works with hospitals, recognising that domestic violence survivors often turn to healthcare providers before anyone else. Staff at KEM, Nair, and Sion hospitals have received training on how to support women with empathy.
Ruby James, a nurse at Nair Hospital, remembers feeling helpless before the training. “We saw a lot of cases, domestic violence, sexual assault, but didn’t know how to respond. Now we do.” She shares the story of a woman rejected by her husband after the birth of their third daughter. With counselling, the family came back together. It’s one of many examples showing what can happen when support comes early.
We saw a lot of cases, domestic violence, sexual assault, but didn’t know how to respond. Now we do.
This is More Than a Film
Breaking the Cycle is not just a film. It’s a reminder. A reminder that behind every statistic is a person. That violence isn’t inevitable. And that change begins when someone speaks and someone else listens.
No one should have to live in fear. Every woman deserves to feel safe in her own home. And when communities come together, when volunteers, nurses, neighbours, and friends stand up, something powerful starts to shift.
At Simit Bhagat Studios, we believe every story of change deserves to be seen and remembered. If your organisation is working to make a difference, quietly or boldly, we’d love to help bring your work to life.
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