Draft:Not Today: A Suicide Prevention Story (2021)

Not Today: A Suicide Prevention Story is a 2021 Indian Hindi language drama written and directed by Aditya Kripalani. The film stars Rucha Inamdar and Harsh Chhaya. It was released on 8 January 2021. The film won won the 'International Critics FIPRESCI Award' and 'Best Asian Film' at the 13th Bengaluru International Film Festival.

Plot

The film opens to a scene where Aliah Rupawala, a 24-year-old practicing the risk assessment with her mentor Mamta ma'am as she prepares for her job in a suicide prevention helpline, "hum sunenge centre".  Next day, as it is Aliah's first day as a counsellor, Mamta ma'am shows her a list of rules which she must strictly follow including not sharing the personal details. On her first day, she receives a call from a 52-year-old man, Arjun (later revealed to be Ashwin) who is on the verge of jumping from a high-rise building. As she begins talking the man on the other side readily predicted that she was panicking. In order to not letting down Mamta ma'am she started texting the man alongside thus breaking the rules. As the two started conversing, it is revealed that the man also works as a counsellor in a suicide prevention helpline for 15 years. The moment aliah told mamta ma'am about this she asked her to disconnect the call and suggested somebody senior will deal with him despite aliah's request to continue repeatedly.

After leaving the office aliah worries and tries to call Ashwin which he picks up. They starts sharing their stories. Ashwin tells about Henry, a lonely boy who attempted suicide but saved by Vaishali and eventually embraced by her family. Aliah then talks about her family and traditions. She reveals that she was adopted at the age of 12 years. Aliah asks Ashwin to tell his story for "something for something" also she says she will physically go to the places for stories. Aliah visits the first place while Ashwin shares his story that he lost his mother during his birth. His father was a drunkard and an emotionally unavailable parent. He found his love interest "Rati" during his post-graduation in advertising.  They started working together and everything was so good he did not visit to his father for 2 years. After a while his father died. Aliah then talks about Tasneem how she found a mother in her while living in an orphanage. They both shared a very special bond. But one day Tasneem got adopted leaving Aliah shattered and depressed. Later on, Aliah also got adopted by her current parents. She talks about how they both had different ways of expressing love. Aliah then visits the second place. Ashwin talks about grief and guilt that he felt after his father's demise. He became alcoholic due to which his family fell apart. He had a daughter with Rati, "Anupama." He reveals that his wife does not allow him to meet his own daughter. After 15 years Rati passed away. He opens his own suicide prevention centre in Mumbai. Now Aliah tells her story and reveals that her veteran aunty told her on her deathbed that Tasneem committed suicide back then. She then reaches the third place; it was Ashwin's suicide prevention centre "NOT TODAY." Ashwin then reveals that he got a call 3 months back from a 23–24-year-old girl. She was Anupama, his daughter, she slitted her wrist while on video call while Ashwin watched helplessly.

The movie ends with Ashwin again on the verge of jumping off the high-rise building receives a text from Aliah that says "NOT TODAY." Ashwin steps back from jumping and answers Aliah's call.

Cast

• Rucha Inamdar as Aliah Rupawala
• Harsh Chhaya as Ashwin Mathur
• Vibhawari Deshpande as Mamta ma'am
• Madhuri Gawali Shinde as Gouri Dange
• Nadi Palishkar as Nadi Palishkar
• Kiran Patil as Anjum Qureshi
• Anuradha Karnik as Pallavi Ullal
• Jaimini Pathak as Siraj Rupawala (Aliah Rupawala's father)