India/1987/128 min/35mm
Director: Ketan Mehta
Producer: National Film Development Corporation
Screenwriter: Chunnilal Madiya
Cinematographer: Jehangir Chaudhary
Editor: Sanjiv Shah
Production Designer: Meera Lakhia
Music: Rajat Dholakia
Cast: Deepti Naval, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Suresh Oberoi
A cruel and clownish landlord sets his sights on a local woman, Sonbai, who escapes from his clutches by seeking refuge in the local chili factory. The factory caretaker takes a stand to protect her, challenging the landlord to venture beyond the factory gates to get to her. With a mauled ego, the landlord threatens the villagers if they fail to deliver Sonbai to him. When the village leader proposes to strike a bargain with the landlord, his wife Saraswati attempts to round up the local women into an army to protest this injustice. Sonbai must deal with the women who curse her for bringing more trouble into their world and the insane demands of a man with the power to set an entire village trembling with fear.
Deepti Naval offers up a quietly dignified performance as the progressive wife of a village leader, one of the few people willing to take a stand against corrupted power.
Hindi (English subtitles)
Print Source:
K.S. Sasidharan
National Film Archive of India
Law College Road
Pune, Maharashtra 411004
India
Ph: 91 20 2565229
Fax: 91 20 25670027
nfai@vsnl.net
nfaipune.gov.in
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