THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For George K. Thomas, 33, and a dozen of his friends attached to ‘Freedom on Wheels,’ it was a dream come true when they watched Dileep's latest film, ‘Welcome to Central Jail.’ They all have been wheelchair-bound for more than 15-20 years and unable to watch a film at a theatre. Thanks to B. Unnikrishnan, secretary, FEFKA, who made provisions for them to watch the film along with their family members and volunteers free of cost.
For the members of ‘Freedom on Wheels,’ who are accident victims, watching a film in a theatre is a distant dream. On Saturday, 15 members of the organisation reached Aries Multiplex here ahead of the show timing at 11.30 a.m. They were in for a surprise when Unnikrishnan arranged a free show for them, including their bystanders and volunteers numbering 60. Unnikrishnan also informed them that a permanent ramp would be provided for them. “He has also promised us that the bathrooms at Aries Multiplex would be made wheelchair-friendly. Soon there would be six theatres at Aries Multiplex. So in future, we will be able to watch almost all the latest films being released here,” said Nalanchira native George K. Thomas.
He told DC that all the government-run theatres had two to three steps at the entrance where they have to seek the help of others to lift them inside the theatre hall. He had suffered severe damage to his spinal cord when his motor bike collided with an autorickshaw close to his home at Nalanchira 11 years ago. George was picked up in all fours by the Good Samaritans which damaged his spinal cord permanently.
C. S. Manikantan Nair, 36, a clerk with the social justice department, had not visited a theatre for the last seven years after he fell from the heights while tying a cable line. His daughter Abhirami, 7, a third standard student of Holy Angels Convent at Vanchiyoor, was seeing a film from the theatre for the first time. “Unfortunately, so far none of the theatres here were wheelchair-friendly. We hope that we will witness a major change and that roads and the transport systems would also become wheelchair-friendly soon,” said Manikantan who stays at Melaranoor government NGO quarters.
