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Provoked: by NRI filmmaker Jagmohan Mundhra from California

Kiranjit Ahluwalia

The film is based on a true story of a Punjabi-Briton named Kiranjit Ahluwalia, who was a victim of marital abuse and was sentenced to life imprisonment in the UK after she killed her husband. While Kiranjit was behind bars serving her sentence, a group of social workers called the Southhall Black Sisters organized rallies and protests following which the British judicial system reprieved Kiranjit’s punishment.

She was born into a privileged family in India and she came to England in 1979 to be married to a man she had met only once. The next ten years were to be a nightmare of almost daily, physical, mental and sexual violence at the hands of her husband. Isolated by a society in which wife-beating was regarded as a normal part of life. She found that she had nowhere to turn. Her own family and her in-laws were unwilling or unable to help.

She placed a blanket soaked in petrol over the bedclothes that covered her husband`s feet as he slept, lit a match and ran into the garden with her three-year-old son. Neighbours heard her husband`s screams and he died of his burns six days later.

Kiranjit, in desperation, killed the man who had tortured her for so long. Bewildered, poorly advised and speaking little English, she was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder. In prison, she unexpectedly found a degree of freedom she had never known in the outside world. For the first time she was safe from beatings and abuse, and was able to make friends with other women - including Sara Thornton, still imprisoned for an offence similar to her own.The case against her was finally dismissed in September 1992, and she was released amid scenes of rejoicing.

By the time of her arranged marriage to Deepak Ahluwalia, her English-educated husband, in 1979, she had four A levels and was studying for a law degree.

 


UPDATED


NRI filmmaker Jagmohan Mundhra's movie 'Provoked'

  • Mundhra is also expected to be in Cannes for a private showing of his latest movie, "Provoked", based on the travails of a battered Indian housewife in Britain.


Awaiting Aishwarya’s Provoked
06th May 2006 21.30 IST
By Aparajita Ghosh

Aishwarya Rai ’s forthcoming starrer Provoked , made by director Jagmohan Mundhra, is taking longer than expected to hit the theatres.

Many expectations are attached to ‘Provoked’, which is being described as a mainstream British film, meant for the English-speaking audience.

The film is the celluloid adaptation of Kiranjit and journalist Rahila Gupta’s novel, ‘Circle of Light’.

Apart from Ash, ‘Provoked’ stars Nandita Das , Miranda Richardson and Naveen Andrews .

The film was supposed to hit the theatres months back, but there have been delays because its director Jagmohan Mundhra wants to give a proper profile to the movie and market it strategically and widely.

It is learnt that the film will be marketed by Lee Daniels and Associates, a reputed marketing company.

‘Provoked’ will premiere for the world media at the forthcoming Cannes film fest on May 18. Aishwarya Rai will be flying down to Cannes especially to attend the premiere and promote the movie.

The film is likely to hit the theatres in July or August.


  • Cast:
    Aishwarya Rai .... Kiranjit Ahluwalia,
    Miranda Richardson .... Veronica Scott
    Naveen Andrews .... Deepak Ahluwalia
    Ray Panthaki .... Ravi
    Nandita Das .... Radha Dalal
    Robbie Coltrane .... Lord Edward Foster
    Raji James .... Anil
    Leena Dhingra .... Sheela
    Claire Louise Amias .... Young Nurse
    rest of cast listed alphabetically:
    Wendy Albiston .... Guard Miller
    Lorraine Bruce .... Doreen
    Ashwani Chopra .... News Vendor
    Karen Shenaz David .... Asha (as Karen David)
    Maxine Finch .... Lula
    Nicholas Irons .... PC O'Connell
    Judith Jacob .... Guard Tyler
    Steve McFadden .... DS Ron Meyers
    Deborah Moore .... Jackie
    Rebecca Pidgeon .... Miriam
    Marsha Rice .... Mrs. Byron
    Faizaan Shurai
    Guy Siner .... Prosecutor
    Julie T. Wallace .... Gladys


  • May 16, 2006: Cannes Film Festival from today -The 59th Film Festival de Cannes opens here on Wednesday with its glitz intact. The 41-year old Italian actress is reportedly being wooed by NRI producer, Jagmohan Mundhra to play the title role of Sonia Gandhi in his proposed biopic on the Indian Congress party president.