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he issue of human traffick- ficking has become imperative to its the film has been applauded at it’s first mass viewership. Another sad fact of Hindi cinema, the only other recent
ing or sex slavery is often development story; hence both central outing at a Melbourne based Indian films on human trafficking is the over Noorani has film to touch upon systematic human
swept under the carpet, as and state governments are working diaspora film festival. Thakur admits active Indian Censor Board. Love Sonia combined his trafficking is Awarapan, made in 2007.
it makes people uncom - towards correcting this. With a vast, to have found this role so tough that will release with 45 cuts and substantial Starring Emraan Hashmi and Shriya
T fortable most of the times. organized network of locals involved in she would have nervous breakdowns reductions in the length of its forced sex Hollywood know Saran, the film flopped but it had pre-
Culturally, India is projected as a land trafficking, rooting it out from India is a while filming. Noorani has spent nearly scenes; the Board seemed outraged by how with an inherent sented a sensitive portrayal of hapless
where family, customs and traditions hugely challenging task. ten years researching for Love Sonia, in its raw portrayal. Given that Love Sonia young girls forced into sex slavery and
are of paramount importance. Cows As has been Hindi cinema’s re - the process, collaborating with NGOs deals with the topic of cruel, animalis- Indian story about prostitution and the complete lack of
are worshipped; female goddesses have cord in the past, the ugly truth behind to rescue victims in Mumbai and other tic sexual and physical violence against two sisters. One rehabilitation efforts for them.
festivals dedicated to them; women, at human trafficking has simply been Indian towns. Bajpai states that this is young girls and women, rawness and In terms of a subject, human traf-
least mothers and wives are kept un- swept under the carpet. It’s not a good, one of his toughest roles ever, and that starkness would serve the purpose of gets trafficked by a ficking provides multiple opportuni-
der veils and protected fiercely by men. entertaining film story- not the kinds this film will become an eye opener in driving home its message. Similarly, helpless father while ties to tell relevant stories from India.
Over time on ground, these traditions that will get family audiences to flock the Indian human trafficking narra- Lakshmi, the stark and powerful film Compulsions of poverty, bias against
have become tools to coerce, exploit to and buy popcorn. However, some tive. Love Sonia is produced by David about trafficking of girls in Hyderabad, the other, Sonia, the girl child, feudal power structures
and abuse women and girls for eco- filmmakers have gone beyond the gloss Womark, experienced in making Hol- never released in it’s home country, and paid sexual abuse- are relevant so-
nomic benefit, within a veil of hypoc- and begun addressing this nationwide lywood films and nominated for an India despite winning accolades at seeks her out of it cial malaises that form layers of India’s
risy that is socially acceptable. Locating menace. In fact, their films have begun Oscar for life of Pi. Womark brings scale global film festivals. It’s director, Nagesh trafficking story. The onus on support-
centralized data collated by the central to make people aware of the sheer size and reach to Western film markets for

Movie Love Sonia tells the ugly

truth of human trafficking

Love Sonia is not an entertainment movie but to make people aware of the complexity of human
trafficking in India, writes ARCHITA KASHYAP

government or a government agency is and complexity of human trafficking this Indie film, thereby ensuring that it
difficult; however a few statistics pro- in India. reaches critics and audiences globally.
vide a clear enough picture. Accord- Love Sonia is literally a labor of love International cinema, by well mean-
ing to a study by Sahastra Seema Bal, for Tabrez Noorani. One of the produc- ing film professionals and celebrities,
trafficking of women and girls in the ers of Slumdog Millionaire, Noorani has told stories of human trafficking
Indo-Nepal border has gone up by 500 has combined his Hollywood know with regularity. Sold (2016), is a poign-
percent between 2013 to 2017. Girls are how with an inherent Indian story ant and beautiful story about a young
sold to brothels in Mumbai, Delhi and about two sisters. One gets trafficked Nepalese girl sold into trafficking and
Kolkata. The price of a girl could range by a helpless father while the other, So- the travails of rescuing her. Emma
from 50,000 INR to a sum as measly as nia, seeks her out. This leads her to get Thompson was executive producer of Kukunoor, has not prevented the film’s into prostitution. While made for com- ing and promoting films that address
10,000 INR. Prevention efforts are min- sucked into an ugly, frightening world this story written and directed by Jef- print from being up on YouTube; at least mercial viewing, Mardaani had its hard any aspect of this sordid tale is on the
imal and demand for young girls forced of trafficking-one which makes it’s frey D Brown. It stars David Arquette that ensures that the film is being seen hitting moments; especially in carving government and it’s cultural bodies.
into sex trade is growing steadily. victims cross borders in sea cargo con- and Seema Biswas, along with As - here. A documentary Oass — The Dew out an antagonist (in a stellar debut by Instead of snipping off this content with
In 2018, crackdowns across Madhya tainers and peddle their youth across samese teenager Niyar Saikia as the Drop, also travelled to Cannes seeking Tahir Raj Bhasin) who considered sell- a puritan attitude, letting it breathe in
Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and different cities. With a very impressive victim. Despite winning awards and buyers. It dealt with the common crim- ing, buying girls just everyday business. movie theatres will go a long way in
Bihar, among other states, have thrown cast that includes Anupam Kher, Raj- recognition at international film fes- inal practice of trafficking of women The film also looks at the nexus of poli- building awareness against this form of
up shocking details of systemic abuse kummar Rao, Manoj Bajpai, Frieda Pin- tivals, Sold is yet to release in theatres and children in Nepal through the eyes ticians, businessmen and rich men that injustice. It’s time that trafficking takes
and trafficking of girls that have pow- to, Richa Chaddha and Hollywood stars anywhere. Films with hard-hitting of a real victim. seek out sex with underage girls rou- center stage on film; and the govern-
erful people with local administration Mark Duplass and Demi Moore, Love subjects that don’t dilute their message In Hindi cinema, Mardaani, the 2014 tinely. For a Yash Raj film, this is a brave ment supports such projects.
working hand in glove. Changing In- Sonia features TV star Mrunal Thakur often remain limited to festival audi- Rani Mukerji starrer, dealt with the and well-done attempt to highlight the
dia’s record of women and child traf- in the title role. Her performance and ences, which limit their ability to find trade of young girls kidnapped and sold realities of trafficking. In mainstream LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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