Shuddhi is a documentary hybrid film which explores the emotional aspects of Hansen's Disease (leprosy) by portraying genuine stories and conversations with patients in India.
It offers a contemplative depiction of a family bond between grandfather (Baba) and grandson (Dittu) with cultural reverence, set against IndiaâÂÂs rivers (Ganges, Beas, and Yamuna), scenic landscapes, and one of the country's remaining hospitals dedicated to the disease.
In 2012, James Higginson embarked on a photography assignment at Nimba Nimbadi Hospital in Jodhpur, where he encountered the stark realities faced by Leprosy patients. The lack of awareness and persevering stigma surrounding the disease motivated him to create a film that goes beyond conventional storytelling, aiming to give voice to the stories and history of these patients in an auteur-documentary form.
Shuddhi strives to foster conversations and highlight the importance of support programs, aiming to break down the social stigma that hampers the expansion of the free testing and treatment efforts.
Higginson sees Shuddhi as a means to promote understanding, inclusion, and more positive attitudes toward Leprosy. By advocating for early detection tests, the MDT medication program, and preventive measures supported by government and non-profit organizations, leprosy can be rendered inconsequential.
The impact campaign of Shuddhi has received letters of support from NLR International (Until No Leprosy Remains), NLR India Foundation, NHR Brazil, Raoul Follereau Foundation France, DAHW Deutsche Lepra- und Tuberkulosehilfe e. V., and INFOLEP.