Transforming Lives: Mahila Housing Trust’s success story in Amalner

Mahila Housing Trust (MHT), a nonprofit organisation in Gujarat, aims to empower women in India. They provide housing and other basic amenities in underprivileged communities through collective action. Additionally, they operate across nine states in the country. 

MHT collaborated with Simit Bhagat Studios to produce a short documentary film to highlight its work in Amalner, Maharashtra. The goal was to showcase their project initiative and highlight it as a scalable model of development across India. 

We produced the film in three months highlighting how the project led to improvement of sanitation, water and hygiene facilities. It also aimed to show the transformative roles played by Amalner’s residents and individuals in improving the town.

Here is how we went about creating this short documentary film for MHT: 

Pre-Production

Our initial groundwork led to the presentation and refinement of various treatment options. We created a draft script that juxtaposed Amalner’s historical challenges — such as water disparity and open toilet issues — with the present-day improvements brought by MHT’s initiatives. 

Once the approach was finalised, our team transitioned into the production phase. MHT’s success in Amalner relied on the dedication of grassroots community workers to execute their vision, necessitating close coordination with the on-ground MHT team to capture the most impactful visuals.

Production

Over three days, our team conducted interviews with the local community members. We also captured compelling on-the-ground footage, resulting in a nuanced film. 

Despite encountering challenges such as heavy rain during filming, the team adapted to the situation. We ensured the production of flawless audio and visual footage.

Post Production

In post-production, our editing team transformed the raw material into a cohesive narrative, to convey MHT’s journey. We tailored the motion graphics based on the MHT’s colour palette to convey key messages. Finally, we worked on the sound design including voiceovers and background music to enhance the film’s storytelling.

This project delves into MHT’s transformative work in sanitation, water access, solar power and climate resilience. Moreover, the film also captures the energy of community engagement. For the crew, filming was an introspective journey that highlighted the realities faced by the communities there. 

MHT was able to showcase the film to its stakeholders and donors to show the impact of its work. The organisation also uses films to train its staff and educate the public. It has been shared and circulated online. The short documentary demonstrates how other cities grappling with similar issues can replicate the Amalner model. 

For social impact organisations seeking to improve their impact through compelling visual storytelling, please connect with us here.