'Kajarya' trailer launched at Jantar Mantar

Filmmaker Madhureeta Anand, whose next film "Kajarya" addresses the issue of female foeticide, launched its trailer in the presence of social activists here at the Jantar Mantar, which has witnessed many significant social movements in the past.

Unlike most films, the launch event late Monday brought together a mixed crowd of men and women who were not blind to the act of killing a female foetus.

"'Kajarya' is a film which is like a cry from my heart. It is because of the world we live in right now, which is so discriminatory and so bad towards women.

"Anything which is bad for women is in a way bad for men too... So it is creating a poisonous societal environment," Anand, who's all for more films on women empowerment, told IANS.

The event also saw eye-opening street plays by children from NGO One Billion Rising and a monologue organised by a few students of Lady Shri Ram College.

Social activist Kamla Bhasin, the South East Asia representative of NGO One Billion Rising, shared her views on female foeticide.

"I feel most ashamed by the fact that over 50 million girls are missing in India. 'Kajarya' is a powerful film directed by a passionate woman trying to jolt us and make us rise against this violence.

"One Billion Rising South Asia is happy to partner with the film's makers to rise against violence towards women and girls and out patriarchal mind set," Bhasin said.

The makers of the film also organised a candle lighting ceremony for the girls who have been a victim of female foeticide.

Besides Bhasin, who has through the NGO, endeavoured to endorse "Kajarya" globally, there were representatives from other non profit organisations.

"Kajarya", which was premiered at Dubai International Film Festival, subsequently travelled to several film festivals, earning much accolade. In the process, the film caught attention of Eve Ensler, who apart from being a social activist, is also the writer of "The Vagina Monologues". She has also endorsed the film.

The film tells the story of two women from different backgrounds, wherein one lives in a village and has the job of killing the baby, essayed by actress Meena Hooda, while the other is an opportunistic journalist from New Delhi, played by actress Ridhima Sud.

The film is set to release on December 4.