World Kidney Day: Team Phool Pishi O Edward highlights the gender gap in organ donation in India

On the occasion of World Kidney Day, discussions around organ donation once again bring attention to a striking social reality in India. According to reports and studies referenced by the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Organization (NOTTO), nearly 70–80% of organ donors in the country are women, while a large share of recipients are men.

The numbers reflect a deeply rooted cultural expectation where women are often seen as the ones who must step forward to save fathers, husbands, sons, or brothers.This gendered imbalance forms the central theme of the film Phool Pishi O Edward. The story places kidney donation at the heart of its narrative, highlighting how women’s bodies often become the site of sacrifice within families. In many situations depicted in the film, if one woman cannot donate, another woman in the family is expected to take her place.

What remains largely absent in these conversations — both in reality and in the story — is the possibility of the reverse scenario: a man donating his kidney to save his wife or a woman becoming the recipient.

The film subtly reflects the social mindset that men’s lives must be protected at any cost, while women, often confined to domestic roles, are expected to bear the burden of sacrifice.

The co-director of the film Shiboprosad Mukherjee said, “The data and reports available online show that nearly 70–80% of living organ donors are girls, while 70–80% of the recipients are boys. This clearly points to gender discrimination in organ donation, and that is the main crux of the story of Phool Pishi O Edward. Through this film, we have tried to bring forward this issue.

However, we cannot reveal right now who is donating to whom in the story. Just a few days ago, we saw how Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Rohini Acharya was humiliated even after donating her kidney to her father. Phool Pishi O Edward is a mystery drama where the central theme revolves around kidney donation.”By weaving this theme into its narrative, Phool Pishi O Edward turns a personal story into a larger commentary on society. On World Kidney Day, the film’s message becomes even more meaningful, reminding audiences that while organ donation is a life-saving act, it also raises important questions about gender, responsibility, and equality in India.