Sold 2016

SOLD narrates the poignant journey of Lakshmi, a 13-year-old girl residing in a village nestled in the Himalayan Mountains of Nepal. Her days are filled with determination as she balances her education and laboring in her family’s rice paddies. Despite the overwhelming poverty that surrounds her, Lakshmi finds joy in simple moments, such as caring for her black-and-white speckled goat and having her mother lovingly brush her hair by the flickering light of an oil lamp.

Tragedy strikes when a devastating monsoon wipes out what little resources her family had. In this moment of desperation, her step-father introduces her to a glamorous woman who promises to take Lakshmi to a well-off household in the bustling city to work as a maid. Eager to assist her family, Lakshmi embarks on a hopeful journey to India, arriving at Happiness House with dreams of a better life.

However, the reality she faces is harrowing. She soon uncovers the horrific truth: she has been sold into prostitution. The ruthless Mumtaz oversees the brothel with a mix of ruthlessness and deceit, making it clear that Lakshmi is trapped until her family’s debt is paid off. With each passing day, she learns that Mumtaz cheats her out of her earnings, further binding her to a life that feels like a waking nightmare.

Yet, amidst the despair, Lakshmi clings to her mother’s wise words: “Simply to endure is to triumph.” Driven by hope, she forges connections with other girls in the brothel, which become her lifeline in this harrowing environment. One of her closest friendships blossoms with Harish, the son of a prostitute, who balances his time between school and fetching tea for the women and their visitors. Harish takes it upon himself to teach Lakshmi how to read and write in English, and he moves her immensely when he gifts her a pencil for this purpose. Their bond grows deeper as they navigate the trials of their surroundings.

As fate would have it, an unexpected figure arrives at the brothel, posing as a client with intentions to rescue the trapped girls within. This event reignites a flicker of hope in Lakshmi, setting the stage for a moment of profound decision-making. Faced with the choice to risk everything—her life and her chance at freedom—to aid her friends who provided her with strength throughout her ordeal, she ultimately makes a courageous and impactful choice, culminating in a cathartic and uplifting conclusion.