Created by Rajnishkumar123
Last edited May 7, 2026

The School Bag
File:The School Bag Poster.jpg
Poster
Directed byDheeraj Jindal & Anshul Agrawal
Produced byDheeraj Jindal
Shashi Chopra
Written byAnshul Agrawal
StarringRasika Duggal
Sartaaj RK
Music byYousuf Hussain
CinematographySatchith Paulose
Edited byNeil Sehgal
Distributed byLarge Short Films
Release date
  • 2017 (2017)
Running time
16 minutes
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi

The School Bag is a 2017 short film directed by Dheeraj Jindal and Anshul Agrawal, written by Anshul Agrawal, starring Rasika Duggal and Sartaj RK. The film has been screened at more than 100 film festival across 24 countries and won 44 awards in different categories. The film was applauded by critics as well public after its online release on Large Short Films.

The short film is based on a real life 2014 Peshawar school massacre in Pakistan when 132 children were killed in Army Public School, Peshawar by terrorists.[1][2]

Cast[edit | edit source]

Plot Summary[edit | edit source]

A young Farooq asks his mother for a new school bag as his 7th birthday gift. The mother tries to placate his son's demand but the son is obstinate. Farooq quarrels with her mother and refuses to attend the school next day unless his mother gets the bag today evening itself. Next morning, he is surprised to see the new bag lying in the house. His mother must have already bought the bag before. The mother wishes him, gives him her blessings and Farooq happily leaves for the school. While cooking sevai (sweet vermicelli dish) for his birthday feast, she learns about the shootout in the school on her radio. By this time, there was already a knock on her door with a policeman carrying the new bag laden with soot.

Reception[edit | edit source]

The film has been selected and won many international awards[3][4][5]

  • Vancouver Film Festival [6]
  • Fastnet Film Festival Winner [7]
  • Reel to real International film festival [8]
  • Best Short Film at Sandpoint Film Festival in USA [9][10][11]
  • Smita Patil International Film Festival[12]
  • GIIFFA [13]
  • Haryana International Short Film Festival [14]
  • Bengal International Short Film Festival [15]
  • Lahore International Children's Film Festival [16]
  • Indian Film Festival of Cincinnati [17]
  • Free Spirit Film Festival [18]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Rasika Dugal's short film The School Bag releases to overwhelmingly good responses". Deccan Chronicle. 14 June 2017.
  2. "Here's why Rasika Dugal's new short film, The School Bag, will stun you!". 14 June 2017. [unreliable source?]
  3. "Indian short film wins award in Vancouver". The Statesman. 12 December 2017.
  4. "Indian short film 'The School bag' wins award in Vancouver Film Festival". The New Indian Express. 13 December 2017.
  5. Service, Tribune News. "Indian short film 'The School Bag' wins award in Montreal". Tribuneindia News Service.
  6. "Indian short film 'The School bag' wins award in Vancouver Film Festival". 13 December 2017.
  7. "Fastnet Short Film Festival (2017)". IMDb. [unreliable source?]
  8. "Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival (2017)". IMDb. [unreliable source?]
  9. "Sff_2018".
  10. Khateeb, Almas (14 June 2017). "Innocence vs Violence: 'The School Bag' Touches a Raw Nerve". TheQuint.
  11. "(Young) Review: The School Bag". 21 June 2017.
  12. "2016 Winners | SPIFF". 16 December 2016.
  13. "Innocence vs Violence: 'The School Bag' Touches a Raw Nerve". 14 June 2017.
  14. "Innocence vs Violence: 'The School Bag' Touches a Raw Nerve". 14 June 2017.
  15. "Innocence vs Violence: 'The School Bag' Touches a Raw Nerve". 14 June 2017.
  16. "Indian short film 'The School bag' wins award in Vancouver Film Festival". 13 December 2017.
  17. "Indian short film 'The School bag' wins award in Vancouver Film Festival". 13 December 2017.
  18. "Kalichaat wins four awards at Free Spirit Film Festival .:. Tibet Sun".

External links[edit | edit source]