Harsh Vaibhav (third from left) with friends on Sunday; (above) the Jeevan office in Bistupur. (Bhola Prasad)

Jamshedpur, April 10: A student forges his father’s signature on his report card, but dad finds out. Will the story get a happy ending or a tragic newspaper headline?

To find out, wait for a 40-minute film by Loyola School students, who are fighting real-life suicide bids among students on reel.

An initiative of Class XII students of the premier cradle, Harsh Vaibhav and Amartya Ghosh, the idea has gained currency with their peers, school authorities and suicide prevention NGO Jeevan.

The creative crusade may help check suicides among teenagers, adolescents and schoolchildren in a city which is fast earning the dubious epithet of India’s suicide capital.

Last year, the toll touched an all-time high of 200, with 43 being students. In 2011 (till March), 14 out of 54 suicides have been students. In 2009, the toll was 136.

For many youngsters, the decision to take their own life is triggered by exam pressure and parental expectations, feel the to-be cub filmmakers.

“Our seniors from Loyola Dramatics Club had conceptualised this idea, which we got to know a few months ago. It was Harsh, the current president of club, who revived the idea of a short film, and I joined him. We’re ready with the script and budget, which is pegged at Rs 40,000” Amartya said, adding Loyola School students, faculty and principal will play the characters.

Right now, the proposal is doing the rounds of companies for sponsorship, as students can’t produce the film. But Loyola School principal Father Victor Misquith has spoken to companies and individuals for funds. “People are encouraging. After all, the film is for a cause. It’s a unique project and I’m backing my students completely,” he said.

“Our aim is to screen the film especially for parents. The goal is to make them understand vulnerable young minds. Our research, based on talks with psychiatrists and psychologists, is quite comprehensive,” added Amartya.

Jeevan chairperson Ronald D’Costa agreed the film would have a positive impact. “The most important way to retard the trend is to open up dialogue between people on this subject. A major stumbling block is that people hardly talk about suicide. But the film will get people thinking, and hence, talking,” he said.