The short film “Hunger” brings to light the suffering in society that we witness every day but often choose to ignore. The film is written and produced by Deepak Thapar and directed by Meenu Singh. It portrays the struggles of homeless and helpless individuals who lack the most basic necessities, such as food and shelter. “Hunger” tells the story of the echoes of hunger heard daily on streets, sidewalks, and alleys.
In the eyes of the homeless, hunger appears as if life has already broken them. Every day and night, they wander the streets in search of a meal, and their dreams often shrink in the shadow of hunger. The film shows that when a person is deprived of essentials like food, clothing, and housing, their greatest battle becomes simply surviving. They fight to stay alive every day, sometimes managing only one meal, while hunger continues to torment them.
Through its characters, the film makes it clear that hunger is not merely a physical state—it is a symbol of social inequality and indifference. The divide between the rich and the poor, along with society’s apathy, makes the story even more poignant. As the film states, “There is no greater illness than hunger… and no greater helplessness than homelessness.”
Deepak Thapar, Meenu Singh, and Arpita Dildar bring the characters to life with their performances. The film’s line producer is Lalit Guddu, and the Director of Photography (DOP) is from Pistu Studio Productions. The script of “Hunger” received the Best Script Award at the Arts and Entertainment Film Festival 2025. The story reflects the challenges and realities faced by youth settling in Canada.
Originally from Chandigarh, Deepak Thapar now lives in Canada and is well-known in the Punjabi community as Mani for his continuous social work. Through his short films, he highlights the internal challenges faced in Canada. These stories reveal harsh realities in certain parts of Canada that every young person should see. The film encourages youth to think carefully before planning to settle abroad. The intention is not to scare them, but to make them aware of the conditions so they do not ruin their lives in pursuit of settling overseas.
The short film “Hunger” also highlights the economic challenges in Canada. Its virtual screening will take place at the prestigious IFFSA Toronto on October 14, 2025.