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Provoked - Preview
Wogma Review
Kiranjit Ahluwalia - the lady who fought with destiny and resigned to it at the same time. One of those stories that get lost in the plethora of injustices in the world. A story that desperately needs to be told. Alas, it loses out in execution - despite Aishwarya’s sensitive portrayal of the lady who was wronged. As usual she looks stunning (without makeup at that!).
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This page has additional observations, other than the ones noted in the main review.
Plot Summary
Kiranjit Ahluwalia a woman ill-treated by her husband, snaps after 10 years of marriage. She takes the ultimate step to liberate herself. The story is then about how she finds support at the most unlikely places when she was not willing to help herself.
What Worked
- In the first few scenes, Aishwarya Rai's eyes are the most expressive of what she is feeling. The cameraman aptly focuses on her eyes a couple of times
What did not
Note: This section simply lists the things that I did not like in this movie. This is not the overall impression about this movie. Please read the full review here
- A police officer picks a picture frame at the crime scene without gloves on. Forensics, anyone? This becomes more than a nitty-gritty because it is later claimed that the frame had Kiranjit's finger prints on them.
- The drama around the surrender of the mangalsutra. It was a bit out of place considering she had just killed her husband.
- It looked like the couple did share a few happy moments together. Then why does Kiranjit say, "10 years of marriage, not one night of happiness?"
- No wonder Kiranjit found her freedom in the prison. Look at the life-time supply of make-up that the inmates got.
- They mention Kiranjit wanting to pursue her education and her husband's willingness. That is left at that. There was no mention of why she did not continue with her studies thereafter.
- Kiranjit's lawyer submits a letter written by Kiranjeet to her husband as evidence when her husband was staying with his mother. How does the lawyer get hold of this letter when the mother was clearly not helping Kiranjeet?
Nitty-Gritty
This section lists things that I think are not important to the overall impact of the movie. In most cases, it could be explained away by something like, "we noticed the glitch after the scene was shot and there were schedule/budget issues and thus we could not re-shoot it". I like giving the makers the benefit of doubt, but I am amused nevertheless. Hopefully, they will tickle you too.
- In the interrogation room, the police officer records the time as 10.30 when the clock shows 10.39. And minutes later he records the interrogation as halted at 10.39 when the clock is again 10.39!!
- Kiranjit is shown to ask about her husband on the day of her wedding. What was the point? If they wanted to show that the couple did not know each other, there were so many other ways to bring that about.
- It was just weird - the way Ronnie who couldn't be bothered to comb her hair, would get her nail-paint changed every time inside a prison.
- Did they really allow cameras inside a prison? Radha was clicking away when she takes Kiranjit's kids to visit her.
- Didn't children need car seats in London in 1989?
- The beer bottles placed as show pieces in the constable's house - too obvious a way to put across that he is a drunkard.
Provoked - Movie Details
- Official Website: Link
- Director: Jag Mundhra
- Lead Cast: Aishwarya Rai
- Supporting Cast: Naveen Andrews, Nandita Das, Miranda Richardson
- Story: Book by Rahila Gupta and Kiranjit Ahluwalia
- Screenplay: Rahila Gupta, Carl Austin
- Running time: 110 minutes
- Reviewer: meetu
- Categories: Hindi Movies
- Genres: Social, Biography
Comments (11)
gr8 movie. aishwariya did use her eyes pretty well and her acting was awesome.
posted 2 years, 11 months agoI never expected that Aishwarya Rai would be able to perform so well. Before I watched the movie, I was hesitant only because Aishwarya rai was in it. This probably will cause a row in the readers, but honestly I hate Aishwarya Rai for her hopeless performances in may be all her movies. Kudos to Jan Mundhra on being able to extract such performance. Naveen Andrews is perfect like he always is.
Coming to the subject itself - either the narration was poor or the British Govt is foolish to have awarded the 'Asian Role Model of the year' to Kiranjit A'walia who in reality did not seem to have even fought enough. It was the system itself that saved her. By no means can she be called a courageous woman. Her cowardice is reflected in her act of trying cause 'pain' to her husband. Sorry women out there - please don't follow her footsteps.
Having said that - overall I do think its a movie well made. Some of the prison scenes were really well done.
posted 2 years, 9 months agoThank you Nirmal, for your comments.
posted 2 years, 9 months agoHello Meetu
Just wanted to say that I have become a daily visitor to wogma after I read your review of Laaga Chunari Mein Daag. Although I found some of the reviews a bit 'not really' type - I think you are doing a great job overall. Just when I started thinking that there are no 'reliable' websites for Bollywood reviews, I come across yours and hopes risen again. Here is hoping you'll continue the good work!!
Kudos
Regards
posted 2 years, 9 months agoNirmal
Thanks Nirmal! Just the words that made my day!!
Feedback, feedback - 'not really' type? Can you please elaborate?
With readers encouraging me, of course, I will continue with my work.
posted 2 years, 9 months agoHello Meetu
You can blame my laziness for not having responded any sooner. That doesn't mean I haven't been reading your reviews though. Scrolling is easier than typing isn't it. (May be its the other way around for you).
Anyway - coming to the point. When I said some reviews were 'not really' types, I just meant that I don't necessarily completely agree with you on some of your reviews. Example - your review on Ek Chalis ki last Local - honestly I watched the movie only after I read your review but was disappointed - I could not understand what was entertaining about the movie or may be I watched it with a preset mind. Another one was 'Guru' - Fantastic movie indeed but I wasn't sure if the actors deserved much praise except Mithun, Madhavan and Vidya. As far as Abhishek and Aish are concerned I think it is fair to say 'Manirathnam has extracted very good performances from them' than saying that they have actually 'delivered' excellent performances. Sorry but I am too picky about movies and performances. But that's just 2 'not really' out of nearly 90-95 reviews on wogma. So I must say that, I think you are still doing a brilliant job.. especially when compared to others including some major news companies.. I don't want to take their names!
Take care
posted 2 years, 7 months agoNirmal
Hi Nirmal,
Scrolling vs. typing - lol!!
oh wow! 2 out of 90+ is not bad at all...I am going to take that as a compliment!
I don't think 100% match is possible...
posted 2 years, 7 months agoCompliment indeed.!
I agree 100% match is not possible and it is not good either!
cheers
posted 2 years, 7 months agoNirmal
Nirmal,
posted 2 years, 6 months agoI'm referring to your comments on other women not following in Kiranjeet's footsteps. Tell me, have you ever been raped, abused, or even subjected to 1% of the torture that battered women are subjected to? I'm guessing not, since you seem to be another one of those male chauvinists. You can't possibly imagine the constant terror and fear that she must have lived in, when a single out-of-place word could make her "husband" lash out at her. You can't possibly imagine, how it is to have all your freedom, all your self worth taken away from you. Tell me, how you would feel if your spouse went on a sleeping spree with other people, told you to fend for the children with no money and expected you to take all this graciously. Can you even begin to imagine, how a pregnant women would feel, if she couldn't even be sure of the safety of her unborn child. Let alone help her cope with her pregnancy, the bastard didn't even think twice before shoving her down a flight of stairs while she was heavily pregnant. Don't you think that caused her pain, probably a lot more pain than you could even begin to imagine. So please, don't advise people on things about which know very little and certainly don't presume to tell us how we should act in a situation like hers unless you've been in one yourself.
And by the way, how can you call her a coward?? Was she supposed to bear all the torture for the rest of her life, or let her children bear the brunt of it? Or was she supposed to commit suicide? Would that make her brave? Why don't you tell us what she should've done, considering that she didn't know any english, was in a completely foreign country and considering that her husband made sure she never got any information about the outside world.
posted 2 years, 6 months agooooh Prerna! sizzling...i really love it when people take their movies seriously. Especially when there is a social cause involved. Thanks for taking the time to leave your thoughts here.
posted 2 years, 6 months agoLeave a new comment