Filmmaker Keith Gomes is set to release “Dear Men,” a hard-hitting short film that confronts the harsh realities of child trafficking in India. The film, starring versatile actor Sayani Gupta, premieres July 30 on Gomes’ YouTube channel to coincide with World Anti-Trafficking Day. A trailer has been unveiled.
Inspired by the true rescue story of social activist Dipesh Tank, who risked his life to save minor girls from trafficking, “Dear Men” follows a rescue worker disguised as a filmmaker who infiltrates a lawless village on a secret mission. Tank, a Governor’s Medal recipient, went undercover posing as a film director in Bihar to carry out the real-life operation that serves as the film’s foundation.
The timing couldn’t be more urgent. Some 44% of human trafficking victims in India were minors as of early 2024, with the states of Rajasthan and Bihar recording the highest number of child trafficking cases between 2018 and 2022, totaling 2,711 and 1,848 charge sheets respectively. An estimated 53% of trafficking victims are exploited in sexual slavery, with 1.2 million individuals trapped in forced prostitution.
Gomes, founder of Starfish Productions, has built a reputation for socially conscious storytelling through previous works including the Oscar-considered thriller “Shameless” (2018) and the Amitabh Bachchan-endorsed “Doobie” (2020). His feature work includes directing the Himmesh Reshammiya vehicle “Badass Ravikumar” (2025) and co-writing the 2014 hit “Kick.”
“During COVID-19, I was researching to make a documentary, then I heard of Dipesh Tank’s rescue operation and knew instantly that I wanted to make this film, but it had to be done with honesty, restraint and respect,” Gomes said. “We shot the climax of ‘Dear Men’ making it feel like a first hand experience. Everything was grounded, and natural, because I didn’t want to impose cinema on reality.”
For Gupta, the role presented unique challenges in portraying a character inspired by Tank’s courage. “When Keith first spoke to me about ‘Dear Men,’ I didn’t know how to place myself in the story. I was portraying a character inspired by a man – Dipesh – whose courage was so instinctive, it didn’t come from a place of empathy,” she explained. “There’s a loneliness to Dipesh’s work, a moral clarity that most people avoid because it’s too hard.”
Tank himself reflected on seeing his story adapted for the screen: “Watching ‘Dear Men’ shook me in ways I didn’t expect. It’s not a polished version of the story. It’s raw, intimate, close to the bone. Keith didn’t try to dramatize what happened and that takes sensitivity.”
The production brings together an international creative team, with Hollywood composer Alex Somers, known for his work on “Captain Fantastic,” “Causeway,” and the Oscar-nominated “Nickel Boys,” providing the score. Oscar-winner Resul Pookutty and Vijay Kumar handle sound design, while action choreographer Stefan Richter, whose credits include “Kick,” “Uri,” and “Barbarians,” stages the film’s high-stakes sequences.
Produced by Mayukh Ray, Rahul Vishwakarma, Zaman Habib and Sandeep Kamal, “Dear Men” represents Gomes’ continued commitment to cinema that confronts uncomfortable truths. “The greatest victory would be if this film lead to a conversation and the anti-trafficking bill is approved in parliament,” the director said.
The film premieres free on Keith Gomes’ YouTube channel on July 30, World Anti-Trafficking Day.
Watch the trailer here:
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