Bollywood Trade News Network

A special screening of the film Provoked starring Aishwarya Rai was organized for the Prime Minister’s wife Mrs. Gursharan Kaur in New Delhi recently. Visibly touched by the sensitive film & praising the performances of the cast, she has written to the producers of the film stating, “The movie brilliantly highlights the trauma and struggle associated with domestic violence which many women undergo”

“The issues raised by the movie need to be widely publicized and shared so that women can courageously speak against this inhuman act”, she further added.

Provoked, is the true life depiction of Kiranjit Ahluwalia (played by Aishwarya Rai), the Asian woman who overturned the British judicial system and transformed the meaning of “provocation” in the case of physically abused women, winning justice for women subjected to domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse. The film, based on Ahluwalia’s autobiography Circle of Light by Rahila Gupta, follows her lonely struggle in an abusive 10-year marriage, her retaliation through the murder of her violent husband and the efforts of women activists Southall Black Sisters to bring her justice.

Provoked is directed by Jag Mundhra and is a Media One Global Entertainment Ltd. production. It casts Aishwarya Rai (Bride and Prejudice, Devdas, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam) in the lead role and has a star studded line up of famous actors like Miranda Richardson (The Hours, Phantom of the Opera, Get Carter), Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter, Ocean’s 12, Golden Eye, The World is Not Enough), Nandita Das (Sandstorm, Fire, Earth), Rebecca Pidgeon (Heist), Deborah Moore (Die Another Day) and Naveen Andrews (Lost, The English Patient, Bride & Prejudice).

Provoked releases worldwide on 6th April 2007.