This Powerful Video Is Required Viewing For Anyone Who Lives In A Democracy

Without saying a word, this mute man will make you want to vote.

“Mute” is a 3-minute video by Ram Subramanian of Handloom Picture Company in India.

It depicts a seemingly mute man complaining passionately about some of India’s most talked-about issues.

Specifically, he complains about potholes on roads, the Indian Supreme Court’s ruling against homosexuality, and the price of vegetables. He also touches on terrorism and gender-related violence.

By the end of the video, he is visibly riled up.

The video ends in a surprising and powerful way, and then, for a brief moment, the screen flashes this message:

Watch the full video here:

Glossary of terms:

-Section 377 in the IPC (Indian Penal Code): This is a constitution law forbidding sodomy, which the Supreme Court upheld last month, causing a huge step back for India’s LGBT movement.

-Sabzi: Vegetable.

-Netas: Politicians/rulers.

Voter turn-out at India’s 2009 general election was 58%. India’s next general election is later this year.

An ink dot on the index finger is a marker of having voted in India. It was instated to prevent double-voting, and has become a symbol for the electoral process.

Find more of Ram Subramanian’s work here.