Ashru Archive organised a film screening on 11 May 2018, featuring The Kid (1921), the renowned film by Charlie Chaplin. This was Chaplin’s first full-length film as a director and marked a significant milestone in early cinema. The film was a major commercial success, becoming the second-highest-grossing film of 1921. Today, it is widely regarded as one of the greatest works of the silent era and was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2011.

The film tells the story of a poor but kind-hearted man, known as the Tramp, who finds and raises an abandoned child. Together, they form an unlikely family, surviving through small schemes and mutual care. As the child grows, their bond deepens, blending humour with emotional depth, until authorities attempt to separate them—leading to one of the most poignant sequences in silent film history.

The screening was arranged with a particular focus on engaging young audiences and students, introducing them to classic cinema and its enduring artistic and social significance. Through this initiative, the Archive sought to create an accessible platform for cultural learning and appreciation, encouraging viewers to explore the historical context and narrative depth of early cinematic works.