Provoked : Movie Preview

“Her suffering was unimaginable. Her solution, unthinkable,” goes the tagline of Jagmohan Mundhra’s forthcoming film ‘Provoked’, which stars Aishwarya Rai in the role of a battered housewife.

How long can a woman suffer physical torture and rapes by her alcoholic and sadistic husband? ‘Provoked’ is the true story of one such woman, Kiranjit Ahluwalia, who suffers silently for years and then kills her husband to gain her freedom.

Besides Aishwarya, the film stars Naveen Andrews , Robbie Coltrane, Miranda Richardson and Nandita Das.

‘Provoked’ is the celluloid adaptation of Kiranjit and journalist Rahila Gupta’s novel, ‘Circle of Light’.

The film tells the story of a Punjabi woman Kiranjit (Aishwarya) who is married to Deepak Ahluwalia (Naveen Andrews) in London. Getting married to a man abroad is like a dream come true for a simple girl like Kiranjit. But it doesn’t take long for her dream to turn into nightmare.

Marital bliss fizzles out for Kiranjit when she discovers that Deepak is an alcoholic who begins to derive sadistic pleasure in torturing her physically and mentally. Over the period, Kiranjit gives birth to two children. But that doesn’t change Deepak’s behavior towards her.

Facing repeated assaults from her husband, Kiranjit decides to take the desperate step. In a fit of rage, she sets Deepak on fire.

Though she is imprisoned for murdering her husband, Kiranjit ironically finds her peace and freedom behind prison bars.

As Kiranjit picks pieces of her fragmented life in the prison, her cellmate, a British woman, comes to know of her plight and decides to help her.

Thereafter, a group of South Asian social workers running an organization called Southhall Black Sisters organize rallies to gather public support for Kiranjit’s freedom. Media does its bit by taking Kiranjit’s story to the masses.

But freedom from prison is still a far cry for Kiranjit. A historical and controversial case is fought in the courts. Finally, Kiranjit finds her freedom and is reunited with her kids.

‘Provoked’ premiered for the world media at the Cannes Film Festival in May this year. Aishwarya Rai, Jagmohan Mundhra and Kiranjit Ahluwalia attended the event.

'Provoked' has music by A R Rahman . It is scheduled to release in February, next year.