Ekta Kapoor's web series on same sex complexities to be launched on March 8

By A Representative
#TheMarriedWoman, a web series to begin streaming on March 8, International Women's Day, on the app AlTBalaji and Zee5, is based on Manju Kapur’s novel “A Married Woman”, woven around complexities in same sex relationship. Published in 2002 and set in the 1990s, the story revolves around Astha, a dutiful wife and a doting mother, who sets out on a journey of self-discovery after she meets Peeplika Khan.
Astha, a young woman brought up in Delhi in a typical middle-class household, was forced to succumb to her parents finding her a husband in the traditional arranged manner. Set against the backdrop of communal unrest in India over Ayodhya, the story seeks to explore unrest within Astha's life. Her marriage becomes questionable after she involves herself in the outer world of rebellion and protest.
Astha meets Peeplika, a grieving widow of a Muslim protester, whom she had admired and who died in the violence in Ayodhya. There follows what has been called a torrid affair between Astha and Pipeelika: The two women cross social boundaries to find solace and understanding in each other’s arms. Kapur writes about sexual encounters without literary inhibitions.
Producer Ekta Kapoor writes on Twitter about the web series based on the much-acclaimed novel: “Creative spaces are at times compelled to conform to boundaries. As a creator I have challenged those norms, at times pushed the envelope. This is the freedom we crave, we celebrate. However, I am cognisant that freedom comes with responsibility.”
She adds, “That’s what my show is … creative freedom to tell a different story with responsibility towards my viewers while respecting the creative desires of my team”.
Ridhi Dogra, who makes her digital debut with the show, says, “It’s not just a story about two women and same sex relationship, it’s much more than that. As an artist I really didn’t have any inhibition. I think this is a huge opportunity for me, great space and I am so glad that I waited so long for this one.”
Monica Dogra, who plays the second lead in the show, believes, “I am super excited about this project as it’s my debut in the web space. I could not have asked for anything better than this for my digital debut. I have been known as a musician and for having played a few roles on the big screen, but this project gives me an opportunity to showcase my acting skills to the fullest.”
Giving details of the series, director Sahir Raza says: "This series is a beautiful project. The story that has been woven is fabulous. I am really glad that Ekta Kapoor and everyone agreed to let me be part of the project. It is such a different concept that most people would fall in love with it even when they read it on paper. That's what happened to me. I feel shows like these should be made for every format. Cinema shouldn't be molded by anyone's morality. I feel that love should not be put into any kind of a box.”

He adds, “We did workshops with Ridhi and Monica and then we had a very straight, open conversation with them about a few particular scenes, including the ones where the two actors had to kiss each other. We, including the crew, informed them that we would like to make such scenes comfortable for them and asked them to suggest us things that would make them comfortable.”
According to Sahir, “The two actresses came with the idea immediately that they would like to have a quiet and closed set with a smaller unit. We have had conversations about the creative aspect of it and there was not any hesitation on either of their part. They understood that they are playing certain roles and were mentally prepared to perform for the same.”
He adds, “In fact, they made it extremely comfortable for all of us to shoot it as well. They are talented, professional actors. The two of them brought a lot of nuance to the scene as well.”
The cast includes Suhaas Ahuja, Imaad Shah, Divya Seth Shah, Ayesha Raza, Rahul Vohra and Nadira Babbar.

Comments

Defeat of martial law: Has the decisive moment for change come in South Korea?

By Steven Lee Late at night on December 3, soldiers stormed into South Korea’s National Assembly in armored vehicles and combat helicopters. Assembly staff desperately blocked their assault with fire extinguishers and barricades. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol had just declared martial law to “ eliminate ‘anti-state’ forces .”

70,000 migrants, sold on Canadian dream, face uncertain future: Canada reinvents the xenophobic wheel

By Saurav Sarkar* Bikram Singh is running out of time on his post-study work visa in Canada. Singh is one of about 70,000 migrants who were sold on the Canadian dream of eventually making the country their home but now face an uncertain future with their work permits set to expire by December 2024. They came from places like India, China, and the Philippines, and sold their land and belongings in their home countries, took out loans, or made other enormous commitments to get themselves to Canada.

A groundbreaking non-violent approach: Maharishi’s invincible defense technology

By MajGen (R) Kulwant Singh, Col (R) SP Bakshi, Col (R) Jitendra Jung Karki, LtCol (R) Gunter Chassé & Dr David Leffler* In today’s turbulent world, achieving lasting peace and ensuring national security are more urgent than ever. Traditional defense methods focus on advanced weapons, military strategies, and tactics, but a groundbreaking approach offers a new non-violent and holistic solution: Maharishi’s Invincible Defense Technology (IDT).

Govt of India asked to work for release of 217 Indian fishermen detained in Pakistan since 2021

By A Representative Members of the fishing communities from Gujarat and Diu, Union Territory, held a press conference in Ahmedabad, urging the Union Government to take proactive measures to secure the release of Indian fishermen currently detained in Pakistan. Presently, 217 Indian fishermen, mostly from Gujarat and Diu, are held in Pakistan’s Malir Jail. Of these, 53 have been incarcerated since 2021 and 130 since 2022.

This book examines dialectics of complex caste and class relationship

By Harsh Thakor* In Caste and Revolution by N. Ravi, the author addresses questions raised by Dalit and Bahujan intellectuals inspired by revolutionary parties. These questions center on caste issues and seek to formulate a profound diagnosis to chart a path toward the annihilation of caste. The book explains how caste-based feudalism and comprador bureaucratic capitalism intertwine to perpetuate the caste system. It asserts that only the path of a New Democratic Revolution can eradicate caste. The book delves into the need for an equal position for oppressed castes in all layers of society to abolish caste discrimination and oppression. It offers an analytical diagnosis, a penetrating navigation, and a detailed account of the dialectics of caste and class across diverse spheres. Annihilation of Caste and the New Democratic Revolution A revolutionary party develops a perspective document on the caste question, integrating its understanding of caste and the program for caste annih...

34 Dalit families in IIT Kanpur without toilets in Open Defecation Free India

By Sandeep Pandey When Indian Institute of Technology at Kanpur was set up in 1959, two villages were uprooted. The farmers were given meagre compensation for the standing crop. No compensation was given for the land to build this institute of national importance. Each family was promised a job but what was not told to them was that one would require specialised skills to get a job at IIT. Some members of these families were, of course, absorbed for menial work. Some washerfolk families were also invited from outside to live on campus to take care of the laundry needs of students, staff and faculty members. One of these men was cajoled by IIT authorities then to forego a regular employment at IIT and instead take up clothes washing work.

प्राकृतिक संसाधनों के दोहन करने की प्रतिस्पर्धा: बढ़ रही पर्यावरणीय और सामाजिक चुनौतियां

- राज कुमार सिन्हा प्राकृतिक संसाधनों और कॉमन्स, जैसे सामुदायिक भूमि, वन, चारागाह और जल निकाय स्थानीय समुदायों के लिए महत्वपूर्ण हैं जो इन संसाधनों पर निर्भर हैं और उनके सतत् उपयोग एवं संरक्षण के लिए पीढ़ियों से प्रयासरत हैं। कॉमन्स न केवल हमारी पारिस्थितिकी को संतुलित रखते हैं, बल्कि ग्रामीण आजीविका, जैव विविधता, और जलवायु अनुकूलन के लिए भी महत्वपूर्ण हैं। दुर्भाग्यवश, हर साल इन संसाधनों में 4% की कमी आ रही है, जिससे पर्यावरणीय और सामाजिक चुनौतियां बढ़ रही हैं। इन कॉमन्स के संरक्षण और पुनरुद्धार के लिए दीर्घकालीन योजना पर कार्य करने की आवश्यकता है। जिससे एक बेहतर, समान और टिकाऊ भविष्य का निर्माण हो सके।

Local businessman subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse: Demand for accountability, justice

By Kirity Roy* On October 9, 2024, a disturbing incident of harassment and abuse took place in the Swarupnagar Block of North 24 Parganas district, involving a local businessman, Hasanur Gazi, who was subjected to physical assault, verbal abuse, and religious discrimination by a Border Security Force (BSF) constable. The incident, which occurred at the Hakimpur Checkpost, has raised serious concerns about the safety and dignity of citizens living in border areas, especially those belonging to religious minorities.

બેટ દ્વારકામાં માત્ર મુસ્લિમ ઘરો અને ધાર્મિક સ્થળો પર બુલડોઝર કાર્યવાહી: તાત્કાલિક રોકવાની માંગ

- પ્રતિનિધિ દ્વારા બેટ દ્વારકામાં મુસ્લિમ સમુદાયના ઘરો અને ધાર્મિક સ્થળો પર તંત્ર દ્વારા થયેલી બુલડોઝર કાર્યવાહી સામે સામાજિક આગેવાનો અને નાગરિકોમાં ભારે વિરોધ જોવા મળી રહ્યો છે. સ્થાનિકોમાંથી કેટલાક દ્વારા ગુજરાતના મુખ્યમંત્રીને લેખિતમાં રજૂઆત કરવામાં આવી છે, જેમાં આ કાર્યવાહી તાત્કાલિક રોકવાની માંગ ઉઠાવવામાં આવી છે.

Search This Blog