The Hindu : New Delhi News : A tribute to Indian womanhood

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Wednesday, Mar 05, 2008
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New Delhi

A tribute to Indian womanhood

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: A scene from Lavlin Thadani’s film “Dadi Meri Saheli”, to be showcased in New Delhi as part of the four-day film festival beginning Wednesday.

A grand four-day film festival saluting traditional Indian womanhood opens at India Habitat Centre in the Capital this Wednesday.

This first-of-its-kind film festival will see the screening of 16 films by director Lavlin Thadani, who is passionate about socially relevant issues.

A befitting tribute to Indian women on International Women’s Day that falls on March 8, the festival will see a series of thought-provoking films based on true life incidents. Sanctioned by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, all the movies deal with crimes perpetrated against women be it dowry-related or pertaining to the age-old practice of “sati”, child marriage, domestic violence, immoral trafficking or witch-branding.

Lavlin strongly feels that though India is shining with its economy growing at a fast gallop, its villages constituting over 60 per cent of its population suffer from several evils that arise due to illiteracy of its womenfolk. “Fostering a single woman is fostering a whole family and the community,” she says.

The films are aimed at exposing the brutality and insensitivity of our society and inspiring women to lead a meaningful and dignified life. In line with the National Literacy Mission’s progressive thinking, Lavlin believes that education is the only means to empower the girl child and women.

Reposing confidence in the female protagonists in her films, Lavlin sensitively handles issues concerning women to encourage them to come out of their demeaning situations. “Triumph lies in accepting challenges and surmounting problems, however difficult...” says the woman director, who has a doctorate in Russian Literature from the prestigious Moscow State University.

Besides producing and directing a number of films depicting the status of women in our society, mostly based on stories by the late Amrita Pritam, Lavlin has also acted in lead roles by film directors such as M.S. Sathyu, Lekh Tandon and Ved Rahi.

Having been a student of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, Lavlin’s film “Karmawali” was a representative entry at the Cannes Film Festival.

Madhur Tankha

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