India Movies

Movie: Dharm Director: Bhavna Talwar YEAR: 2007 LANGUAGE: Hindi (North India / Mumbai) | Color, 104min, 35mm YouTube: Dharm

SYNOPSIS: The film tells the story of Pandit Chaturvedi, a highly revered Brahmani priest. One day, his daughter brings home a baby who was abandoned by his mother. Chaturvedi, who agrees to take the small one at the request of his wife. Family life is shaken by the return of the child's mother and the discovery of his Muslim background. The priest returns immediately and the child goes to a purification process due to contact with a Muslim soul. After a while, the priest's life suffers a new setback with the return of the child seeking refuge on account of violent clashes between Hindus and Muslims. This decisive event Chaturvedi strength to realize that true religion is humanity.

Movie: Naalu Pennungal (Four Women) Director: Adoor Gopalakrishnan YEAR: 2007 LANGUAGE: Malayalam (Kerala state) | Color, 105min, 35mm YouTube: Bad Girls

SYNOPSIS: The film is an adaptation of four tales known author Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai, who narrates the stories of four women with different life experiences. The film begins with the story of a couple living on the streets, in the 40s. Pennu Kunju, a prostitute and her husband live in a relationship without legal recognition. Local authorities put pressure on the couple, and this is forced to separate, as punishment for the "crime" committed. The virgin is the second story that chronicles the life of Kumari, a young virgin from an agricultural workers family, who in her age, was forced to accept an arranged marriage. After the ceremony, Kumara goes to live with the indifference of her husband. On a visit to his father's house, the young woman is abandoned by her husband, accused of infidelity in the neighborhood. Faced with the humiliation of the family, Kumari reveals to everyone's surprise, that the marriage was not consummated. The third story is about a housewife Chinnu Amma, a woman happily married but without children, who one day receives a visit from an old boyfriend, Nara Pillai. Among memories of youth, Nara Pallai realizes the fragility of Chinnu and tries to seduce her. Arises is the question: to succumb to desire or be faithful to their beliefs. The last story is about a young woman who lives with her family: her widowed mother and three younger brothers. At the beginning of the movie the girl receives a marriage proposal that fails, because the groom exchange for his younger sister. It follows resignedly, the marriages of all her brethren. After the death of her mother, the girl is forced to live in the house of her younger sister. All goes well until its proximity to the family awakens distrust and jealousy of her sister, which senses an alleged affair between her and her husband. Challenging her destiny controlled by her brothers, the young woman finally decides to live her life alone on her own.

Movie: Sringara Director: Ramanath Sarada YEAR: 2007 LANGUAGE: Tamil (Tamil Nadu state) | Color, 117min, 35mm YouTube: Interview with director

SYNOPSIS: Sringara tells the story of Devadasi, a temple dancer, and her search for identity and emancipation. An elegant and contemporary manifestations of traditional representation of 20th decade in India, fraught with stunning visuals and magnificent music. A delicate day of love in its manifestations - physical emotional and spiritual.

Movie: Badham (Owned) Director: Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar YEAR: 2006 LANGUAGE: Marathi (Maharashtra state) | Color, 92 min, 35mm)

SYNOPSIS: Badha is a battle between fear and faith. A pastor of the village witnessed this battle with watchful eyes. A young married woman, but no child is accused of practicing witchcraft against children of the village after the disappearance of a boy. The grandmother of the child panics, because it is the only son who would continue the family legacy. Taking advantage of the circumstances, the village chief use ruses of politicians to manipulate the destinies of two communities living together in harmony.

Film: Maaya Maati (Gravedigger Stories) Director: Chitra Palekar YEAR: 2006 LANGUAGE: Marathi (Maharashtra state) | Color, 98min, 35mm

SYNOPSIS: Chandi is a beautiful young woman who belongs to a lower caste, whose family is traditionally responsible for a children's graveyard. When her father dies, Chandi is forced to inherit the role, the absence of other men in her family. The young woman carries her sacred duty with great pride, but with the birth of her son Bhagirath, things start to change. Caring for her child wake up in Chandi a deep regret over the deaths of children. The deal with those little bodies affect her mind and her soul and made her want to give up her function. But questions also arise: "Who will protect the tombs of the dead children?", "Awakening the wrath of the ancestors?", "It is wrong to want to give up the sacred duties?". The husband of Chandi, Narsu do not understand her conflict. The community force her to continue with her duties, and when she finally rebels, ignorance and superstition made people hostile, punishing the girl in the worst way. Twelve years later Narsu tells the sad story of Chandi to her teenage son. A tribute to the memory of Chandi finally give through love and the courage of her son, Bhagirath, who will dare to challenge the system.

Movie: Haat, The Weekly Bazaar (Haat: the fair) Director: Seema Kapoor YEAR: 2000 LANGUAGE: Hindi (North India) | Color, 98min, 35mm YouTube: Haat: Friday - 01 | Haat: Friday - 02

SYNOPSIS: The film is based on an ancient custom called "Natha Pratha" that says if a woman wants to leave her husband, her father must pay compensation to him. The amount of compensation should be decided by men (Panchayat). If the value can not be paid, the woman will be punished by the villagers, being stripped naked and publicly humiliated. Her husband, by contrast, has total freedom to leave, simply an excuse. The film tells the story of Sanja, a woman who received such punishment. Amid the tragedy that took over her life, she begins to see Ambika, the ghost of an eighteenth-century woman who went through a similar tragedy, whose spirit will reach peace if a woman has the courage to fight and not submit to such punishment.