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 | |
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Raji James | ... | Solicitor Anil Gupta |
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Leena Dhingra | ... | Sheela Ahluwalia |
Claire Louise Amias | ... | Young Nurse | |
Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
Wendy Albiston | ... | Guard Miller | |
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John Alford | ... | Chris Jones - Legal Aid Solicitor |
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Vonda Barnes | ... | Prisoner |
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Peter Benedict | ... | Dr. Manning |
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Freya Berry | ... | Dr. Emma Stillman |
Lorraine Bruce | ... | Doreen |
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. Written by A. Bose
Where to start with this .... ? Well the script is poor, the characters one-dimensional, the music is dreadful, and the directing and acting simply abysmal. In fact, possibly the worst acting I've ever seen in a movie, and I've seen a lot of movies.
I get the feeling the makers of this film were on a crusade, and let pursuance of that goal completely overshadow the actual film-making process.
So bad is the script and acting that I found myself unable to sympathize at all with the 'victim' of abuse, who comes across as arrogant, snobbish and immature. Hence any sympathy for the cause of battered women has been tainted.
At best it might be called 'cheesy' and there is a hint of Bollywood about it, but frankly to entrust an important story to this bunch of amateurs was a huge mistake. I suggest you don't waste your time on this film.