This morning Nandini and I both realized we had butterflies, also that I still didn’t really have anything to wear. After a long breakfast and a fair bit of running around, fielding phone calls, replying to email, etc. we set off for The Quad. I met my friend Margee and the Soma Girls legal/outreach coordinator, Prathima, for lunch at Bar Six down the street and thought I’d have plenty of time and chill to chat, enjoy some food, etc. before heading up the street to the screening. Well, Margee had to bust out early to pick up something for her son, and so Prathima and I helped ourselves to a second beer. Maybe not the bvery best idea right before my world premiere… 
Anyway, all went well until we realized we were about to be almost late. We paid the bill, ran the hell out of there and arrived at a PACKED theatre. Seriously. Our freakin’ screening was ten seats away from being sold out. I heard Rani, the young volunteer in charge that day mutter “holy cow” as she scanned the large crowd buzzing excitedly before the lights went down. It was so nuts just before showtime that I didn’t even get to meet Sweta, the director of Sixteen Blades of Grass, the film that was screened with ours.
As the lights went down the audience applauded. Later Nandini would tell me how shocked and proud she was of that moment. There were a lot of our friends in the audience and I think the positive energy had just burned through everyone as they were sitting down. 
Sitting in the dark of The Quad Theatre watching my own film, but also watching others react to it… is something I’ll never do justice describing. I was moved by how intently everyone was listening to the story. You could hear them listening. It was awesome. Everyone laughed in all the right places, and muttered amazement and sadness in all the right places. After the credits the applause was beautiful…
During the Q&A we were lucky enough to have Soma Home founder & trustee, Urmi Basu, in attendace. The three of us, along with Sweta, fielded questions about the safety of filming in Kolkata’s red light areas, of the state of the Indian education system, and of hope. The overall message was that our films had done their jobs: exposed some issues that need much greater discussion. It was a very fulfilling experience.
After the Q&A Nandini and I talked with lots of new “Soma Girls” fans and made some wonderful contacts which we are already following up on. I would like to say thank you to everyone who attended the screening, and everyone who has provided support. I would also like to thank Sakhi for moderating the Q&A, and Sweta for making a wonderful film and sharing the event with us.
Go Team Soma Girls!!!
