Umbartha

A hard hitting film focusing on the corruption and rot in the institutionalised reformatory homes for women. Incredible writing and incredible performances.

Jabbar Patel has predominantly depicted political issues on the screen (with success too), but in UMBARTHA he doesn't only do that. While he has handled the issue of how the rehabilitation centres meant for desolate women are "actually" run (sex racket, money minting), he has also portrayed the sensitivities of a woman as a wife, a mother, as a member of her family, as a qualified social worker and as a head of the one of the many rehabilitation centres.

The protagonist (Smita Patil) has excelled in portraying her character to perfection. Also the support cast, as is the case with almost all the Jabbar movies, has done a good job. Hrudaynath Mangeshkar has beautifully woven the lyrics of Vasant Bapat, Suresh Bhatt and Narendra Sharma into his music. Songs are used brilliantly to portray emotions - 'Chaand maatala..' has subtle undercurrents of the same-sex relationship between the two women of the rehabilitation centre, Smita Patil recollects the beautiful moments with her husband through 'Sunya sunya maifilit..', and equally good is the prayer song 'Gagan tejomay..', voices being rendered by Lata Mangeshkar and Ravindra Sathe.

All in all, definitely a message-driven movie. A sure trigger to the thought process!

Great direction, great acting and a thought provoking story. This movie is a must see for every woman and man. it deals with the underlying dependence of a woman on man especially in marriage and how men tend to take undue advantage of it. But there comes a time for decision in every womans life .. . .