Skater Girl
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''Skater Girl'' is a 2021
coming-of-age Coming of age is a young person's transition from being a child to being an adult. The specific age at which this transition takes place varies between societies, as does the nature of the change. It can be a simple legal convention or can b ...
sports Sport is a physical activity or game, often competitive and organized, that maintains or improves physical ability and skills. Sport may provide enjoyment to participants and entertainment to spectators. The number of participants in ...
drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, opera, mime, ballet, etc., performed in a theatre, or on Radio drama, radio or television.Elam (1980, 98). Considered as a g ...
film directed by
Manjari Makijany Manjari Makijany is an Emmy Nominated Indian-born filmmaker based between Los Angeles and Sydney who works on American Film and Hindi films. She is best known for directing the Netflix original feature film '' Skater Girl'' (2021) and the Disne ...
. The cast includes newcomers Rachel Sanchita Gupta and Shafin Patel, and also stars
Amrit Maghera Amy Maghera (formerly Amrit Maghera) is a British model and actress, working in Hindi, English language, English and Punjabi language, Punjabi films. From 2015 to 2017, she appeared in the British soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' as Neeta Kaur. Career ...
, Jonathan Readwin and
Waheeda Rehman Waheeda Rehman (born 3 February 1938) is an Indian actress. Regarded among the most accomplished actresses of Hindi cinema, she has worked in more than Waheeda Rehman filmography, 90 feature films, in a career spanning over five decades. Her ac ...
. It was written by Manjari Makijany and Vinati Makijany, who co-produced the film through their Indian production company Mac Productions. It was released on 11 June 2021 by
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
to critical acclaim.


Plot

The film begins in the remote village
Khempur Khempur is a village in Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India. It is noted for its Ravla Khempur, an equestrian hotel which was originally the palace of the Cāraṇa chieftain, Khemraj Dadhivadia, after whom the town is thus named. It featured as ...
, near
Udaipur Udaipur (Hindi: , ) (ISO 15919: ''Udayapura'') is a city in the north-western Indian state of Rajasthan, about south of the state capital Jaipur. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Udaipur district. It is the historic capital of t ...
, in
Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
, India, where life is governed by tradition and societal norms. Prerna, a teenage girl, obedient and respectful of her family's expectations, but with a spark of curiosity and desire for something more. Jessica, a British-Indian woman, arrives in the village to explore her late father’s roots. She is fascinated by the simplicity of village life and begins to connect with the local children. Jessica’s clothes get dirty when a young boy (Ankush), involved in a scuffle with a schoolmate, accidentally throws cow dung onto her shirt. Ankush is the younger brother of Prerna. Prerna takes Jessica to a water pump to get her to wash herself. From Prerna, she learns how Prerna's community uses a different water station as she belongs to lower caste. Observing the children playing with makeshift toys she posts a video of the children playing, which inspires her friend Erick to travel to the village with his own, proper board. She orders a few skateboards and, with the help of her friend Erick, teaches the kids how to ride. The children, including Prerna, are initially puzzled but soon become enthralled by the sport. After helping a reluctant Prerna up on the board, Erick gifts her his own skateboard, which she accidentally destroys at the water dam. Scared of facing him, Prerna steals cash from her father and goes to Erick to compensate for his destroyed board. As Erick doesn't accept the money, Jessica applauds Prerna's honesty but asks her to return the money to her father. While keeping the cash back in the safe, she is discovered by her father and gets beaten. She is later consoled by her mother to whom she confesses that skateboarding makes her feel like she's free. To which her mother cautiously warns her that women in the village aren't allowed to be free. As the children’s enthusiasm for skateboarding grows, it becomes a regular activity in the village. Prerna, in particular, shows a natural talent for the sport. The kids become infatuated with the sport, skating through the village, disrupting everything and everyone around them. Prerna’s father is particularly alarmed, believing that such activities are inappropriate for girls. He forbids Prerna from skating and insists that she focus on her domestic duties and studies. The growing popularity of skateboarding, especially among the girls, sparks concern among the village elders and teachers. Kids carry out a protest in defense. Kids skip school to skateboard on the village streets which prompts a teacher to file a police complaint. The police nab the kids and confiscate their boards. Jessica requests the police inspector to give the skateboards back and reassures him that she'll make sure that the kids do not create a nuisance in the village streets. She introduces the kids to NO school NO skateboarding rule. However, the village superiors are not convinced. Recognizing the children’s passion and the lack of a proper space to skate, Jessica and Erick propose building a skatepark in the village. They face significant challenges, including securing funding and overcoming the villagers’ resistance. Despite these obstacles, their determination and the children’s support push the project forward. They take the project to the Queen of Udaipur ( Wahida Rehman), who is inspired by her passion and secures funds to help Jessica. As construction of the skatepark progresses, tensions rise within the village. Some villagers, including Prerna’s father, strongly oppose the project, fearing it will disrupt their traditional way of life. Despite the growing opposition, the skatepark begins to take shape. Erick brings in his skater friends from all over the world to assist in the build. Prerna’s love for skateboarding intensifies her conflict with her family, especially her father. He burns her skateboard and plans to marry her off. She is caught between her passion for skating and the societal expectations imposed upon her. The skatepark is finally completed, becoming a vibrant center of activity for the village. Prerna’s father remains resolute in his opposition, forbidding her from visiting the park. This deepens Prerna’s sense of frustration and helplessness. Jessica organizes a National Skateboarding Competition at the newly built skatepark, attracting participants from surrounding areas. Despite being forbidden by her father, Prerna decides to secretly enter the competition, with the support of Ankush, Jessica, Erick and her friends who understand the significance of this moment for her. On the day of the competition, Prerna sneaks out of her wedding to participate. The event is filled with excitement, drawing the entire village to watch. In a particularly tense moment, Prerna attempts a difficult trick, a drop-in from the highest point in the park, followed by a perfect landing. Witnessing her talent and determination, her father begins to soften his stance. Although, Prerna doesn't win the competition, she is gifted an honorary prize.


Cast

* Rachel Sanchita Gupta as Prerna * Shraddha Gaikwad as Gunjan *
Amrit Maghera Amy Maghera (formerly Amrit Maghera) is a British model and actress, working in Hindi, English language, English and Punjabi language, Punjabi films. From 2015 to 2017, she appeared in the British soap opera ''Hollyoaks'' as Neeta Kaur. Career ...
as Jessica *
Waheeda Rehman Waheeda Rehman (born 3 February 1938) is an Indian actress. Regarded among the most accomplished actresses of Hindi cinema, she has worked in more than Waheeda Rehman filmography, 90 feature films, in a career spanning over five decades. Her ac ...
as Maharani * Shafin Patel as Ankush *
Anurag Arora Anurag (Devanagari: अनुराग) (pronounced "Anurāg"), sometimes shorted Anu, is a common Indian first name. There are various meanings of Anurag in Sanskrit such as attachment, devotion, passion and eternal love. Notable people named Anu ...
as Mahesh * Jonathan Readwin as Erick * Swati Das as Shanti * Ankit Rao as Vikram * Ambrish Saxena as Ramkesh *
Vivek Yadav Vivek Yadav (9 December 1984 – 5 May 2021) was an Indian cricketer who played for Rajasthan cricket team, Rajasthan in first-class, List A and T20 matches. He was a primary bowler who bowled leg spin. Though he was known to be a front line bo ...
as Tipu * Sohan Suhalka as Vishwinath * Sahidur Rahaman as Police Officer


Production

The idea for "Skater Girl" was inspired by the real-life skateboarding movement in India, which has been growing rapidly in recent years, particularly in rural areas. Manjari Makijany, who co-wrote the script with her sister Vinati Makijany, sought to tell a story that not only highlights the sport but also addresses social issues such as gender inequality and the empowerment of young girls in conservative communities. The filmmakers undertook intensive research to ensure an authentic portrayal of the cultural and social dynamics in rural India. This included spending time in villages, interacting with locals, and understanding the challenges faced by young girls in such environments. The casting process was particularly challenging, with a focus on finding actors who could authentically represent the characters and the environment. Rachel Saanchita Gupta was cast as Prerna, the film’s protagonist, marking her debut in a leading role. The filmmakers brought in real skateboarders from India to add authenticity to the skateboarding scenes. Over three thousand children were auditioned, many of them skaters from skate communities across India. These skateboarders, many of whom had never acted before, were trained to perform in front of the camera, adding a layer of realism to the film. Kids from
Khempur Khempur is a village in Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India. It is noted for its Ravla Khempur, an equestrian hotel which was originally the palace of the Cāraṇa chieftain, Khemraj Dadhivadia, after whom the town is thus named. It featured as ...
were trained by professional skateboarders and were cast as secondary characters. The producers decided to film on real locations instead of recreating the skatepark on a set. As the central set of the film, the producers built Rajasthan's first and India's largest skatepark in Khempur. A significant part of the pre-production involved designing and constructing the skatepark, which plays a central role in the film. The skatepark was built in the village of Khempur which was also the location for the film ''
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ''The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'' is a 2011 British comedy-drama film directed by John Madden. The screenplay, written by Ol Parker, is based on the 2004 novel ''These Foolish Things'' by novelist Deborah Moggach, and features an ensemble c ...
''. It served as one of the primary shooting locations. The film brought together crew from the US, Canada and India. Filming took place in Khempur and other locations in Rajasthan, capturing the vibrant yet harsh rural landscape that forms the backdrop of Prerna’s journey. The production team worked closely with local communities, often involving them in the filming process, which added authenticity to the scenes. The production employed approximately five hundred cast and crew including over three hundred and fifty village locals. The filmmakers spent over a year researching, writing and meeting with teenage girls and boys in
Rajasthan Rajasthan (; Literal translation, lit. 'Land of Kings') is a States and union territories of India, state in northwestern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the List of states and union territories of ...
to write Prerna and Ankush’s characters as authentically as possible. Fifty-five skaters from across India featured in the movie including thirty-four local skaters from
Khempur Khempur is a village in Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India. It is noted for its Ravla Khempur, an equestrian hotel which was originally the palace of the Cāraṇa chieftain, Khemraj Dadhivadia, after whom the town is thus named. It featured as ...
. Production on the film completed in early 2020. Post Production was completed in Los Angeles at
Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...
facilities.


Release

The film was released on
Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
on 11 June 2021 in 191 countries and 31 languages across the globe.


Reception & Legacy


Critical reception

Writing for
RogerEbert.com ''RogerEbert.com'' is an American film review website that archives reviews written by film critic Roger Ebert for the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' and also shares other critics' reviews and essays. The website, underwritten by the ''Chicago Sun-Times ...
, critic Sheila O’Malley said the film “captures the iconoclastic freedom and rebellion skateboarding has so often represented, and it joins a long line of rousing skate films.” O’Malley added,
Newcomer achel SanchitaGupta is a revelation, as is hafinPatel, who plays her mischievous and sweet younger brother. Both understand all of the complexities of this story and give beautiful and powerful performances. There may be one too many obstacles placed in Prerna's way…stacking the deck against her so there will be an even bigger payoff. But overall "Skater Girl" is so gratifying it doesn't matter.
Anupama Chopra Anupama Vinod Chopra () is an Indian author, journalist and film critic who served as the festival director of the Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image, MAMI Mumbai Film Festival from 2015 to 2023. She is also the founder and editor of the now-de ...
from film companion in her review said, "Manjari captures this exhilaration effectively: this is what happens when stifled lives are allowed a moment of recklessness. In one scene, Jessica astutely observed that people don't hate skaters. They hate their spirit. There is a lovely sequence in which Prerna and Ankush sneak out of their home at night to practice – the flashlight on their skateboard create designs on the cement floor of the park. As simplistic as the storytelling is, by the end, the emotion kicks in. After all, no matter how impossible the scenario, it's always lovely to see a young girl take flight."


Legacy

Situated on a one acre campus, the 14,500 sq. ft. skatepark is one of India’s largest and Rajasthan’s first skatepark. The skatepark was built with the team from 100 Ramps with the help of Indian and International volunteers, and skateboarding and acting workshops began in October 2018. After filming completed in April 2019, the skatepark remains a free public use skatepark, with the aim of continuing the social impact such skateparks have on rural Indian villages. Hundreds children in and around
Khempur Khempur is a village in Udaipur district, Rajasthan, India. It is noted for its Ravla Khempur, an equestrian hotel which was originally the palace of the Cāraṇa chieftain, Khemraj Dadhivadia, after whom the town is thus named. It featured as ...
village, Rajasthan have been positively impacted by the introduction of skateboarding. Many children from surrounding villages and schools attend free training workshops at the park. Four kids represented Rajasthan state at the RSFI national championship.


Source of inspiration

Following the release of the film's trailer,
Ulrike Reinhard Ulrike Reinhard (born 1960) is a German publisher, author, digital nomad and futurist. She is best known for her skatepark in Madhya Pradesh, Janwaar Castle. Reinhard has also been editor of ''WE Magazine'' and has written for ''Think Quarterly' ...
's and
Asha Gond Asha Gond is an Indian skateboarder from Madhya Pradesh. She represented India in the 2018 World Skateboarding Championship and leads a non-profit organisation, Barefoot Skateboarders. The 2021 Netflix film, '' Skater Girl'', is believed to b ...
accused the filmmakers of stealing Gond's story of her rise as one of India's top skateboarders. According to the Director, Manjari Makijany, while Gond along with hundreds of female skaters across India were interviewed for the film, she denied that the movie was about Gond stating, "the film is not a biopic based on anyone's life story nor is it a documentary. It is not Gond or Reinhard's story."


References


External links

* * * {{IMDb title 2020s Hindi-language films 2021 films 2020s English-language films Netflix original films Indian direct-to-video films 2021 drama films 2020s sports drama films 2020s coming-of-age drama films 2021 directorial debut films Skateboarding films Films about women's sports 2020s feminist films Films set in India Films shot in Rajasthan Films directed by Manjari Makijany English-language sports drama films