The Midwife’s Confession is an Indian documentary telling a moving and critical story about an enduring issue—how the lives of girls are valued or disregarded in parts of India.
Thirty years ago, in the villages of Bihar, a young journalist with a video camera uncovered a truth so disturbing it was almost unbearable to hear. Midwives—women who traditionally brought life into the world—confessed on camera to routinely murdering new born baby girls, on the orders of the girls’ own families. The Midwife’s Confession from the BBC World Service’s Eye strand though is not just about the killings; it is about a remarkable transformation. The same midwives who once ended lives became agents of change, rescuing newborn girls and ensuring their survival. The rescued girls were adopted by families in India and abroad.
The retelling of an age-old tale on female infanticide in rural Bihar
A full-length documentary on the multifaceted stories behind female infanticide, from midwives’ confessions to girls who were saved & adopted
Newsworthy.Studio’s Founder, Anubha Bhonsle served as Executive Producer along with Daniel Adamson to bring to light the stories of midwives who confessed to their involvement, and the lives of those they saved. The film is directed by Amitabh Parashar, the journalist who as a young man first met the midwives, along with Syed Safi, also the cinematographer on the film. As EP, Anubha worked with the team to co-craft the film’s narrative, facilitate field and archival investigations, manage on-ground teams and shoots, oversee intricate post-production processes, and ensure that the final product remained ethical, insightful, and impactful. The Midwife’s Confession premiered on BBC’s platforms on September 11, 2024 in 7+ languages and was made by a predominantly Indian crew comprising of Neha Tara Mehta (Producer), Purnima Mehta (Assistant Producer), Shwetika (Researcher), Debangshu (Audio), Abhinav Tyagi (Editor) and Ankur Jain (India Eye).
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