Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women

I caught this movie a year ago during a special film festival screening. It will one of the movies that I will not forget anytime soon.

It came as a surprise during the opening credits that the makers of the film normally make mainstream Hindi films. But the movie contains none of your typical song-dance routine.

The movie starts by showing the Indian culture in villages where males are prized assets while women are seen as a curse. But it very wisely reverses the roles, where in a village no more women are to be found and it is only inhabited by males.

The wild search for a bride begins thereafter and one can only imagine the savage side of the male species rears its ugly head.

A must catch film. Waiting for it to be released on mainstream or on DVD.

I just got through watching this movie and I must say it is very well made. However, I found some character flaws in the movie. For example, the lady goes through so many hard things and never questions her desire to live? why is that? And then at the end of the movie the baby is a girl...but then why does she smile and be happy about having a girl? shouldn't she have been upset? Also, doesn't this movie leave the message that women cause problems in society rather than good? Because of her occurred all the killings, riots, etc. (this is my movie critique, not my personal belief?) Please correct me if I am wrong. Anyway, I did enjoy the characters of the 5 brothers, her father was a pimp, and her father in law didn't deserve to live.

Overall a great movie worth watching with a powerful message (despite the way it is conveyed)

A movie with a lesson. The movie is not just "art-lovers" movie but overall an extra-ordinary. The direction, the sequences, the acting. Everything is so refined that it does not let you move out of your seat.

Some reasons why you would not watch this movie:

1. Not a family movie (because of usage of obnoxious language and scenes which are of course required)

2. Not a "feel-good" movie(Need strong heart to watch the movie).

Reasons why you would watch this movie:

1. Feel the profoundness of India Cinema.

2. Unrivaled performances by characters.

3. Superb direction, editing, sequences and all the behind screen things.

4. Watching a complete movie.

5. Know better the consequences of decreasing sex ratio.

One of very rare films which covers such a crucial topic so effectively. The performance of each character, starting from lead actors like Sushant Singh, Sudhir Pandey, Piyush Mishra to even the 'dai' is too natural. It would not be wrong to say that it is rare to find such performances. I personally rate the performances higher than that of Black which claim to be one of the best movies of Bollywood.

Finally, I shall say a must watch movies. I am happy that this movie is going to release in 6 languages. No wonder this movie has been awarded with many international awards and ranked as Top Ten movies for the year.

Matrubhoomi will move you. You might hate it, you might like it - but you cannot be indifferent to this movie. So very very away from Bollywood. I watched this with my wife in a hall in Calcutta. I had simply no expectation about the movie. It was trifling 'raw' for my wife - but it shook us to the core. Female foeticide is an alarming menace in modern India. It is not the poor states like Bihar, UP, MP , etc. who show declining juvenile ratio - but the worst cases have been reported from more prosperous states like Punjab, etc.

My accolades to the director for calling a spade a spade - he intended to produce a punch and he has done it with a style. Acting was superb - although Tulip was slightly wooden at times. The ending was on an optimistic note, too - let's hope India regains basic human sentiments regarding girl children.

'Matrubhoomi: A Nation Without Women' is one of the most disturbing Hindi films. It presents several taboo issues and graphic images such as: A graphic image of child being drowned in milk (female infanticide), gang-rape, serial rape, a Hindu priest engaging in a homosexual affair, incest, polygamous marriage, human slaughter, bestiality and frontal nudity. I'm surprised that it didn't create much controversy considering the subject matter. Actually, I wish it did because then more people would have watched it. It has a relevant message, especially to those who oppose having female infants and women's rights.

It's one of the bravest pieces of Indian cinema indeed but I wonder what director Manish Jha's intentions were were. Probably he wanted to get his message through to those many who see their daughters as burdens. Nevertheless, he tells his story well and a majority of audience will stay in shock long after the end credits have rolled. It doesn't leave a good taste but it shouldn't. Many people seem to criticize the film for being regressive but that is a ridiculous statement. In a country where even some of the biggest celebrities and leaders express their preference for a male child, one can only wonder how people who look up to them feel.

Tulip Joshi gives a restrained heartbreaking performance. The audience really empathizes with her character's agony and it really requires a fine actress to play such a difficult part and a newcomer like Joshi does a superb job. The rest of the cast is adequate.

'Matrubhoomi' is thought provoking and requires a lot of courage from the audience but it is an important film that should be seen. Kudos to Manish Jha and his crew for taking such a risk. One of the bravest pieces of recent Indian cinema.