Matrubhoomi un monde sans femmes

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.

'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.

First of all let us ponder as to why we let this type of cinematic creations pass off without minimal considerations...why?? Its really a shame that in the ensuing cinematic race where only 'super star, sex and commercial profit' hold command, these type of 'sensitive, real' cinematic creations lag far behind in terms of due recognition (at least in sense of viewership response). In fact, I had the opportunity to watch the movie only a month ago.. 11 years after its release and certainly there would be many who are still deprived of the opportunity to watch this movie. Well, in due appreciation to the unconventionally superb cinematic treatment of a sensitive social issue, I would recommend everyone interested in viewing real cinema to have a shot at "Matrubhoomi: A Nation without Women" and enrich themselves with a sublime experience. It has no doubt turned "Bandit Queen" upside down!! Just go for it..

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.

Manish has definitely brought about a revolution in Story telling in India. With Matrubhoomi not only has he challenged the very fabric of Indian Movie making but also the residing fear in Indians to accept and admit their own apathy towards their own wisdom and creed.

Indian cinema has long been manifested, rather infected with a megalomania of movie making thus fooling the audience into illusions of happiness and so called feel-good-factor. On the contrary, here is a movie that is brilliantly directed to not only present the an imagination perfectly, but also telling the story absolutely pertinent to fathomable future.

Truly this cinema not only shows the harsh realities of female infanticide but also displays a sublime love and purity of womanhood to her kind. It also blends the cruelty of men responsible for female infanticide with a sympathy that veneers their characters due to lack of adulthood.

Manish Jha has successfully entered the shock art cinema and guys believe me we have our own , Desi version directors like Gasper Noe, Quintin Tarintino or Bernardo Bertolucci. A perfect recipe!!!!!!!