I have been waiting eagerly to watch this movie- Provoked and finally when I watched it – I was honestly disappointed and disguested.
The task before the director was not Herculean because the story was has been told many times before so therefore he knew what the challenges were. No cheers for Aishwairya Rai who has done a very mediocre job in this movie. The character she portrays in this movie was supposed to be strong-willed and determined but she has portrayed it more like a “damsel in distress”. It is sad to see that just because this actress agreed to act a part without make-up, movie critics and audiences are applauding her for her great acting which I failed to see in this movie. Watching this movie was like eating a cold meal. There was absolutely nothing to rave. I am only sad that the brave story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia has been told in the most deplorable way it could have been. The Southall Black Sisters (portrayed by Nandita Das) who helped the real-life Kiranjit Ahluwalia, have criticized the film for being riddled with “factual and legal inaccuracies”. Two members from the group Pragna Patel and Rahila Gupta, whose characters have been merged to create one person, played by the Indian actress Nandita Das, said it took “a lot of artistic license”. She told, The Observer that, ““I cringe a bit because I was so closely involved. Sometimes I think people should rise to the challenge of reflecting real life better. My view is that the reality is far more interesting.” I cannot agree with her more in this. It makes me even sicker when I read about the director’s reaction-”Even if you tell a true story, a true story is never really a true story. How do you define the truth? None of us were really there and obviously the recollections of people who were there have changed now. Ultimately I do have to tell an engaging story. If I can’t tell an engaging story no matter what cause is at stake, nobody will see it.” I cannot stop myself from thinking that this movie was not intended for an educated audience or the least to fuel the egos of feminist thinkers but for the housewives who spend the better part of their lives crying at the “K” enigma of Ekta Kapoor.
This movie has absolutely nothing to offer anyone but only offends the real-life hero they attempted to portray in this movie by depicting her as a “damsel in distress”.
But hats down to the real-life heroine- Kiranjit Ahluwalia who life has been portrayed in this movie or rather a very futile attempt was made by the director to portray. Her story is nothing new in our society. We wake up everyday to read stories of how men has tortured and raped women in India. But what is new is the strength Kiranjit Ahluwalia has portrayed in her life and gives hope to the entire womankind. She teaches us to raise voice against the crimes that are being committed on us. We should all take cue from this woman, not to kill our husband’s when they lay hands on us but to stand up strong against such atrocities.
