Has anyone seen the film Matrubhoomi?

lotus blossom

I just read about the film "Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women" and was wondering if anyone has seen it yet? Here's the website:

http://www.matrubhoomithefilm.com/

And a review:

http://in.movies.yahoo.com/050714/24/5zc5v.html

It sounds very intense but I am glad that there are directors who are finally willing to work with important issues such as these. Bollywood film is fun, but it keeps reality in the dark, and this issue is one that desperately needs to be brought into the light.

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byronic

A couple of months ago when I was at the NAZ8 (bollywood theater) I saw the preview for this movie, "Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women". The preview was very intense, and well actually Very Melodramatic, with super over the top music playing in the background.
I want to see the movie, because it is an important subject, female infanticide. Yet the preview made the film look like a bollywood revenge film, and from all accounts I hear that is what the movie actually is like.

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lotus blossom

i suspect that there is a backlash against bollywood by directors doing these sort of films since bollywood depicts things much differently than it sounds like this film does. still, if the previews shows it this way, it may dissuade people from seeing a film about an important topic.

lotus blossom

i finally saw this movie.

i have not been so moved by an indian film since the likes of "bandit queen", "bombay", and "earth".

to say that it is an important film would be a gross understatement, imo. and while it is futuristic, it is based on the real issue of the disparity of the male/female ratio in india (the ratio of females is presently at an all time low).

it deals with female infancide, an issue that i am researching for a book that i am working on. it is one of india's dirty clandestine issues that is finally, fortunately, starting to be looked at more seriously and openly.

here is an interview with the writer and director Manish Jha:

http://in.rediff.com/movies/2003/oct/16jha.htm

and a good review from Planet Bollywood:

http://www.planetbollywood.com/Film/...nWithoutWomen/

another review, with this excerpt:

The first time I saw this film at MAMI, I was flabbergasted. I felt contrite on being a man. Trust me I did. The second time I went to see the film, it reminded me of the poster of ‘No Greater Sin’ (1941) that clearly stated, "You’ll gasp, you’ll wince, you’ll shudder... so powerful, many will faint!" Manish Jha’s maiden venture ‘Matrubhoomi — A Nation Without Women’, is a subject that would glut your insight with thoughts and consequences of those thoughts. It would startle your nervous system and you might just loose your appetite for the day. Well, this is a shocking film. A subject, that is unique in its context and treatment.

http://www.stardustindia.com/display...ews_standard80

this is a powerful film with that left me sobbing by the end. sensational? i don't think so. not when one considers that women are treated as property in countries all over the world. i am grateful that the film was written by a man.

jivan

sorry didn't find this thread earlier hence couldn't share. Anyway it's far from futuristic, it's more real than one can imagine. Some facts :-
1. In BIMARU states women ratio to men is averaged something like 700:1000 so all these extra men are unhealthy & hence u have situations as outlined in the movie. 1 women serving 3 men. Mythological support is Draupadi as well as Sita.
2. In most of the Northern states the women as well as young men get married at 14. In villages it still is abundant while in cities the consciousness is rising but very slowly.
3. Inter-caste marriages are still not allowable more in north but also prevalent in south.
4. There were property issues with females getting nothing out of ancestry wealth. This has been recently changed but would need sometime & few court cases which serve as a precendent. Also don't know whether this would serve the cause of upliftment or also becomes a tool. Brothers/fathers/husbands pressurizing the girl/woman/child etc.
5. Cases of girl-child/teenage girl being sold to a 50 yr. man.
6. Female infacticide due to another mouth to fill/respect to be saved whereas a man is supposed to becoming the earning member of the family.
Of course could go on & on but sure you knew all about this. As the movie in itself it shows what does happen. Pretty sensitive potrayl. The movie didn't work as there was no nudity otherwise it would have grossed.
If looking for women oriented movies/issues then look for lot of Smita Patil's work (died from cancer), Shabana Azmi (renowned but controversial actress), Kalpana Lazmi (women director par excellence) latest movie Chingari. As in some other post had talked there are some pressure groups working here in india but don't know how far they've been successful.

jivan

just look at this girl shruti's tale on Star news(hindi) showing right now. Also can see the Jessica Lal case. If you were in pune then could've introduced u to some of the work happening here. Know some social groups working here on feminist issues

lotus blossom

jivan, thanks for the info. i'll pm you for more details. thanks!

jivan

most welcome

theyyamdancer

I saw this film the other day and was very impressed both by the subject matter, treatment of a delicate subject with humour, as well as by the beautiful photography and poetry in the film-making. It deserves a wide audience and then maybe attitudes will change.

lotus blossom

i am wondering if we are talking about the same film since i cannot remember any humor. i do recall the servant peeing in the brahmin's drink, but then i found this more tragic than humorous since it shows the (unspoken) animosity that exists between the castes.

but yes, it does deserve a wide audience, and the issue of female genocide in india is getting more media attention.

jivan

Echo the same as lotus, I also didn't find any humor anywhere. No black or grey or whatever.