By Aditya Patwardhan for the Artists for Change Blog
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10245960/
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmSthRcvGC0
Synopsis:
THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE is a poignant ‘Impact’ documentary-feature on the estimated 70 million homeless people in India. It draws attention towards these ‘invisibles’ and seeks to ‘visibilize’ them. The sordid stories of the homeless people humanizes them and depicts how poverty has been criminalised under an archaic, draconian law in India. The stories unfold through the lens of India’s leading crusaders – TARIQUE MOHAMMED, and his organisation members who have dedicated their lives for the homeless and destitute. The fight against injustice and violence is an ongoing one and THE INVISIBLE VISIBLE has some call to actions.
Directors:
Kireet Khurana
Harsh Doshi
There is a familiar moment that happens countless times each day in cities around the world. A car stops at a red light. The driver sits inside, safe and comfortable, when a weathered face appears at the window. The person outside carries years of struggle in their eyes, silently asking for help. The driver looks away, the window stays shut, and as the light turns green, the car moves on. The person left behind disappears once again into the background. This simple act of looking away reflects how society chooses to ignore poverty that exists in plain sight. It is this quiet, everyday blindness that director Kireet Khurana’s powerful documentary The Invisible Visible seeks to confront.
The Story and Its Purpose
The Invisible Visible is not just a documentary; it is a call to conscience. The film forces its audience to look at what they usually avoid and to understand the deep systems that make poverty and homelessness continue. Through vivid storytelling, Khurana takes viewers from the halls of power in Delhi to the streets of Mumbai and the harsh shelter homes of Bihar. It reveals the lives of over 70 million Indians who are not only ignored but are often treated as criminals for simply being poor.
For an organization like Artists for Change, which believes in the power of stories to create social impact, this film is a perfect example of how art can bring real change. It shows that storytelling, when done with heart and purpose, can influence laws, inspire movements, and awaken empathy.
Poverty as a Crime
The heart of the documentary lies in exposing a cruel truth: in India, poverty itself has been made a crime. The film highlights the Bombay Prevention of Beggary Act of 1959, a law that allows the police to arrest anyone who appears poor or homeless. The definition of “begging” is so broad that even standing in public without visible means of income can lead to arrest.
The film explains that this law is not new: it is a colonial leftover, built on old British rules meant to control the poor, not help them. These vagrancy laws treated poverty as a threat to public order. Decades later, the same mindset still exists. The Act’s cruel logic punishes the poor instead of addressing why poverty exists.
Legal experts in the film make it clear that this law violates India’s Constitution, which promises every citizen dignity and equality. Through this legal and moral lens, The Invisible Visible transforms from a story about homelessness into a fight for human rights.
The Heroes Behind the Film
At the center of this story is Tarique Mohammed, a social activist and founder of the organization Koshish. His journey began when, as a student at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, he visited a “beggar’s home” for research. What he saw there shocked him. People with mental illness, the elderly, and the disabled were being kept in filthy, prison-like conditions simply for being homeless. That day changed his life. He decided to dedicate himself to ending this injustice, founding Koshish to reform the system.
Koshish works directly with government institutions, training officials, conducting audits, and advocating for humane policies. One of its most important contributions was uncovering the Muzaffarpur Shelter Home case in Bihar, where dozens of girls were abused and killed. The film handles this horrifying event with great care. Instead of showing graphic scenes, Khurana uses animation to tell the story. This approach respects the dignity of the victims while conveying the full gravity of the crime.
The Filmmaker’s Vision
Director Kireet Khurana brings deep purpose to this film. Coming from a family of socially conscious filmmakers, his father Bhimsain Khurana made the iconic film Ek Anek Aur Ekta, Kireet has always used cinema to drive social change. His previous works, such as Komal (on child sexual abuse) and Locked (on child labor), show his consistent focus on human rights.
In The Invisible Visible, Khurana partners with Tarique Mohammed to combine activism with art. Tarique provides the access, knowledge, and groundwork. Khurana brings the storytelling craft and cinematic voice that make these stories reach the world. Together, they turn a hidden social struggle into a movement for change.
The Film’s Real-World Impact
The success of The Invisible Visible is not measured by awards but by the real change it has created. The film has influenced policy, inspired campaigns, and shifted public perception.
- Impact on Policy:
After government officials from India’s Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment watched the film, they recognized the seriousness of the issue. Their response helped push for new reforms. Soon after, the government announced a new national scheme for the rehabilitation of beggars, with an initial fund of one billion rupees. The plan focuses on housing, education, and job training rather than punishment: exactly the kind of change Koshish has been fighting for. - Impact on Civil Society:
The film was also screened for Saanjhi Taaqat, a national alliance of organizations working on poverty issues. Many of these groups had no idea that such a harsh law even existed. After watching the documentary, they united to launch a campaign demanding the repeal of all beggary laws and calling for better shelter homes and regular audits of welfare institutions. - Impact on Public Awareness:
Beyond institutions, the film moved ordinary people. Through its sensitive portrayal of the homeless, it made audiences see them not as “others” but as fellow human beings. Campaigns around the film on World Homeless Day reached thousands, urging people to rethink their daily choices and attitudes toward the poor.
A Message for the World
While The Invisible Visible focuses on India, its message resonates globally. The criminalization of poverty is not unique to any one country. From London to Los Angeles, similar laws and attitudes continue to marginalize the homeless. The film becomes a mirror for every society that chooses to look away. It reminds viewers that poverty is not a crime and that compassion, not punishment, is the only moral response.
Conclusion
The Invisible Visible is more than a documentary; it is a movement captured on film. It proves that storytelling, when guided by empathy and truth, can become a force for justice. Kireet Khurana and Tarique Mohammed show that when activism and art come together, they can make real change happen.
The film does not simply talk about the invisible; it helps the world finally see them.
