Hockey player Anson Thomas' battle against human trafficking to be hailed on screen

Former Mumbai and Customs hockey goalkeeper Anson Thomas (extreme right) with actor Ganesh Yadav (centre) and director Suresh Zhade (right)

Mumbai and Customs hockey player-turned-social worker Anson Thomas, 54, has decided to showcase his arduous journey against human trafficking on celluloid through a film titled, Pledge To Protect.

Thomas, a sturdy goalkeeper in his prime, has worked diligently against human trafficking across the country's red light areas from where he has helped rescue over 800 girls across the last three decades. The movie that is currently being filmed across different parts of the city, including some brothels, will have Anson as the lead actor alongside other prominent Bollywood names like Govind Namdeo, Sunil Pal and Ganesh Yadav. The film will be directed by Suresh Zhade and should be ready for release in two to three months.

"When I look back at my journey across the dinghy brothels of our country, I can't believe I've done whatever I could. Collaborating with the police and other authorities to help rescue helpless sex workers is a thankless job. But being a sportsman, I learnt never to give up and to always fight hard even if the odds are stacked against you. My idea behind producing this movie is not to make money or earn fame, I want to spread the message that human trafficking needs to stop. This modern-day slavery must end and that can only happen when each one of us pledges to protect our daughters, sisters and mothers," Thomas told mid-day.com recently.

"The movie is based on real life incidents so it will be hard-hitting. It will appeal to a wide audience not only in India but also abroad and that's why I'm certain the film will do well," said Yadav.
Director Zhade insisted that he has undertaken this project not for any financial gain but purely as a social cause. "The film has a strong message and that's why I decided to be part of it. Anson has achieved so much without being associated with any powerful NGO or without any consistent funding. Our plan is to not just release the film in theatres but to also showcase is across numerous international film festivals across the world because the problem of human trafficking is not just restricted to India. It's a global menace," said Zhade.