A Haryanvi film Baingan, showcasing the richness of the Haryanvi dialect and rural sensibilities, was screened at the 8th Haryana International Film Festival organised by the Department of Youth and Cultural Affairs in collaboration with the Sanskriti Society for Art and Cultural Development at Kurukshetra University on Thursday.Despite its humorous title, Baingan unfolds as a deeply sensitive and psychologically layered narrative rooted in Haryanvi folk life. The 90-minute film revolves around the character of Radheshyam, portrayed by actor Jagbir Rathi.The film highlights how careless words can have devastating consequences, potentially disrupting lives and relationships. It further underscores how colloquial expressions, often used casually in everyday Haryanvi speech, may carry unintended emotional weight. Through its narrative, the film explores how seemingly humorous words can deeply affect an individual’s psyche, sometimes leading to severe psychological distress.The storyline follows Radheshyam, a landlord who depends on rental income for his livelihood. The plot takes a significant turn when a tenant, a wrestler, refuses to pay rent and dismissively responds with “take brinjal” (baingan) instead. What begins as a trivial exchange gradually evolves into a profound conflict of dignity and self-worth, eventually escalating into a courtroom battle. In a symbolic verdict, the court orders that the unpaid rent be recovered from the tenant’s brinjal crop.However, the film transcends the issue of rent, focusing instead on deeper themes of self-respect and personal dignity. Directed by Mayank Puri and produced by Preeti Rathi and Ajay Chaudhary, the film is written by Manchan Prakash.