Private Project

BREAKING BARRIERS

Twelve-year-old Sumit, a brilliant student and football enthusiast, lives in the city with his parents. Their maid, Kapra's 13-year-old son, Shiban, belongs to the Santal tribe and lives in a nearby slum, dreaming of studying and playing football, but poverty holds him back. Shiban starts helping his mother with the housework, watching Sumit from afar and learning in secret. Although Sumit's mother forbids them from interacting, Sumit discovers Shiban's talent for football and his hunger for learning. When Sumit's team prepares for an important match, they lack a strong scorer. Inspired by a wise street toy seller, Sumit defies his mother's prejudices and invites Shiban to join. Despite social barriers, their bond grows through football and mutual respect. On match day, Shiban scores the winning goal, breaking both the game's deadlock and the invisible walls of class division. Breaking Barriers is a powerful story of friendship, talent, and the courage to challenge social inequality through empathy, humanity, and unity.

  • SHYAMA SUNDAR MAJHI
    Director
    KUKLI, MIRU, SABARNAKA SURUBALI, TISH HAN ALOM HIDINJ
  • SHYAMA SUNDAR MAJHI
    Writer
    KUKLI, MIRU, SABARNAKA SURUBALI, TISH HAN ALOM HIDINJ
  • JAYANTI MAJHI
    Producer
    KUKLI, SABARNAKA SURUBALI, TISH HAN ALOM HIDINJ
  • DOGA MURMU
    Key Cast
    "SHIBAN"
  • GANESH MARDI
    Key Cast
    "SUMIT"
  • FULMANI HANSDA
    Key Cast
    "SHIBAN'S MOTHER"
  • HITAM HANSDA
    Key Cast
    "SHIBAN'S FATHER"
  • KAMINI MAJHI
    Key Cast
    "SUMIT'S MOTHER"
  • SAGEN HANSDAH
    Key Cast
    "SUMIT'S FATHER"
  • DEEPAK MURMU
    Key Cast
    "DEEPAK"
  • SHANKAR HEMBROM
    Key Cast
    "TOY SELLER"
  • SHYAMA SUNDAR MAJHI
    Key Cast
    "DEEPAK'S SIR"
  • RAJ MOHAN SOREN
    Cinematographer
    KUKLI, TISH HAN ALOM HIDINJ
  • DEEPAK MURMU
    Executive Producer
  • GANESH TUDU
    Dubbing Artist
  • BASTA MURMU
    Dubbing Artist
  • AMIT TOPNO
    Dubbing Artist
  • BISUNITH HANSDA
    Dubbing Artist
  • BASET TUDU
    Dubbing Artist
  • SHYAMA SUNDAR MAJHI
    Story, Screenplay & Dialogue
    KUKLI, MIRU, SABARNAKA SURUBALI, TISH HAN ALOM HIDINJ
  • RAJ MOHAN SOREN
    Edit, Sound & BGM
    KUKLI
  • KIRAN MAJHI
    Assistant Director
  • JOYANTA BASKEY
    Assistant Cinematographer
  • SUBRATA MANDI
    Assistant Cinematographer
  • KIRAN MAJHI
    Art
  • SUBRATA MANDI
    Art
  • RANO MAJHI
    English Subtitle
  • SHAKUNTALA MARNDI
    Ol Chiki Credit Copywriter
  • RAJ MOHAN SOREN
    Colorist, Graphics & Publicity Design
  • RAKESH SOREN
    Production Manager
  • CHANDRA MOHAN HANSDAH
    Light
  • MAHESH HANSDAH
    Light
  • SAHHIL BASKEY
    Light
  • GDM STUDIO
    Audio Dubbing
  • BCC STUDIO
    Equipments
  • KHERWAL PICTIRES
    Post Production
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Fiction, Drama
  • Runtime:
    26 minutes 17 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 15, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    350,000 INR
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Hindi, Santali
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - SHYAMA SUNDAR MAJHI

Shyama Sundar Majhi is a passionate filmmaker from the Balasore district of Odisha, India. An alumnus of BITS Pilani, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Power Engineering, Shyama Sundar’s journey into cinema has been driven by a deep commitment to storytelling and cultural preservation.

He began his directorial career with the Santali music video album "Bin Gira Pera" in 2015, comprising seven vibrant songs that captured the spirit of his native culture. In 2018, he expanded his creative expression by writing the story, penning lyrics, and directing the Santali feature film "Sabarnaka Surubali", a project that earned recognition for its emotional depth and narrative richness.

Continuing his journey, he directed and wrote the short film "Kukli" in 2019 under the banner of Marshal Mandwa Production, followed by the 2022 short film "Miru"—crafted under Pinky Production House—which further showcased his versatility and narrative command. In 2023, he directed "Tish Han Alom Hidinj", a road safety-themed Santali short film that reflected his social consciousness.

In 2025, he once again collaborated with Marshal Mandwa Production as the screenwriter and director of "Breaking Barriers", a short film highlighting the unseen struggle of society.

Known for his uncompromising devotion to cinematic excellence, Shyama Sundar Majhi has established himself as a respected voice in the Santali Cine Industry, with each of his works reflecting a blend of artistic vision and cultural authenticity. Through his films, he remains dedicated to the progressive development of Santali cinema, aiming to give voice to indigenous stories with sensitivity, pride, and innovation.

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Director Statement

Breaking Barriers is a story born from observation and emotion, about two boys from vastly different backgrounds who are united by shared dreams and a love for football. As a filmmaker from Odisha deeply rooted in regional and Santali storytelling, I wanted to explore how societal divides—of class, privilege, and access—impact children who are otherwise innocent and open-hearted.

This film is a gentle yet powerful reminder that true change often begins in small, silent moments: a discarded pencil, a distant gaze at a study room, a game that brings strangers together. Characters like Monglu represent the wisdom that comes not from wealth or status, but from life itself.

With Breaking Barriers, I hope to inspire viewers to look beyond economic and social labels and nurture empathy, especially in the hearts of young people. It is a humble film with a strong voice, and that voice belongs to the children we often overlook.