Matrubhoomi to go to Venice
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BORN FREE: Tulip Joshi in Manish Jha’s
Matrubhoomi — A Nation Without Women | Writer, director Manish Jha’s film, Matrubhoomi — A Nation Without Women has been chosen for the Venice International Film Festival 2003 in the International Critics Week category.
Produced by Nicolas Blanc, Patrick Sobelman and Punkej Kharabanda, Matrubhoomi is based on a fictitious place where there are no women left. The film explores the emotional and psychological frustration and the collapse of a society because of such a situation.
A childhood spent in Bihar and adolescence in Delhi gave Jha the idea of making this film. He explains, “Women are treated so badly in both these places that it’s unsafe for them to step out after 7.30 in the evening. I have a sister and I know how difficult it was for her.
Imagine, almost 50 per cent of our population live behind the four walls of a house and contribute little to society because they are constantly worried about being harassed or molested. Feticide claims many women before they are born, female infanticide after their birth and dowry deaths claim some after marriage.
When are we going to create an environment where women are free to work and express themselves without inhibitions? We can never become a developed nation till we respect women, hear their voice and let them contribute actively to society. That’s why I am making this film.”
Jha’s earlier film, A Very Very Silent Film, was judged the Best Short Film at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The 93-minute long Matrubhoomi stars Tulip Joshi, Sudhir Pandey, Piyush Mishra and Pankaj Jha and has cinematography by Venu, editing by Shirish and Ashmith Kunder and music by Salim-Sulaiman.
After competing at the Venice International Film Festival in late August, Jha hopes his film will be released in India in October.
article posted by:
mkjha69@yahoo.com
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