Provoked: A True Story (2006)

It's the true story of a Punjabi woman named Kiranjit Ahluwalia who leaves India to marry a London-based guy, only to be badly abused. She ends up in prison for murdering her abusive husband.

Director:

Jag Mundhra

Writers:

Carl Austin, Rahila Gupta

Stars:

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Miranda Richardson, Naveen Andrews

Cast

Credited cast:
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan	...	Kiranjit Ahluwalia (as Aishwarya Rai)
Miranda Richardson	...	Veronica Scott
Naveen Andrews	...	Deepak Ahluwalia
Ray Panthaki	...	Ravi
Nandita Das	...	Radha Dalal
Robbie Coltrane	...	Lord Edward Foster
Raji James	...	Solicitor Anil Gupta
Leena Dhingra	...	Sheela Ahluwalia
Claire Louise Amias	...	Young Nurse
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wendy Albiston	...	Guard Miller
John Alford	...	Chris Jones - Legal Aid Solicitor
Vonda Barnes	...	Prisoner
Peter Benedict	...	Dr. Manning
Freya Berry	...	Dr. Emma Stillman
Lorraine Bruce	...	Doreen

Storyline

Provoked is the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, a Punjabi woman who moved to London after her marriage with Deepak Ahluwalia. Her husband seemed caring at first but then began to beat her up. He started drinking a lot and sleeping around with other women. he also subjected her to spousal rape. After ten years and having two children with him, out of fear, she sets him on fire while he is sleeping, two hours after another scene of domestic violence. He succumbs to the injuries ans she is sentenced to prison for life for premeditated murder. However the Southall Black Sisters, an NGO which fights against domestic violence helps her get justice. And after spending 3 1/2 years in jail, she is set free and reunited with her two children.

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Plot Keywords:

women's rights | prison | murder | domestic violence | england | 

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Taglines:

She lost her liberty and found her freedom

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK India

Language:

English Punjabi

Release Date:

6 April 2007 (UK)

Also Known As:

Provoked

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

£140,104 (United Kingdom), 8 April 2007, Limited Release

Company Credits

Production Co:

Raj Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title refers to the defence in English criminal law of "provocation". This provides that a person who intentionally kills as a result of provocation will be convicted of manslaughter and not murder. However, the law's interpretation of what constitutes provocation has been very narrow, requiring a "sudden and temporary loss of self-control". If there is a time delay between the provocation and the victim's response, the law will tend to deny the defence to the woman who has been provoked. This was the central legal issue in Ahluwalia's case.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Shrek the Third/Once/Even Money/The Wendell Baker Story/Provkoed (2007)

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Soundtracks

Alaap
Composed by A.R. Rahman
Vocals by Runa Rizvi

User Reviews

Heartening Movie

Well when i bought the DVD and sat to see the movie I wasn't a bit aware of the fact that the movie is going to be so heart wrenching. The film has been superbly directed and the role of Kiranjeet Ahluwalia has been just perfectly played by Aishwarya. After reading about the story of Kiranjeet one will be able to understand how well the film has been set up. I would highly recommend the movie. Be read with your napkins as for the emotional junta this is going to be a weepy ride throughout. Nandita Das has also done justice to her role. Ironically the laws in UK are being amended for the sake of Indians and India still faces loads of such cases. All I can say about the movie is that it brought tears to my eyes and I'm not a weepy kinda person. kudos to Aishwarya and the director of the movie.