Mumbai: Sold at an open auction by the panchayat in a town of Madhya Pradesh a few years ago, Devaki bai had nothing but bad memories of the past.
But when she arrived in Mumbai as part of the pre-release campaign of the film Devaki, her trauma seemed to have faded.
Devaki, which is directed by Bappaditya Bandopadhyay, portrays the journey of two women belonging to different strata of life and their exploitation in society.
"We've put it on a bigger canvas. It's not just about one rural girl. It's about many women sufferers. In this case, they are sold", says Bandhopadhyay.
Devaki bai hopes the film that is inspired by the trauma she faced, will awaken society against acts of brutal violence.
Devakibai, who calls herself a "survivor" says, "I was left without food or water for 72 hours and was more than anything was humiliated. I hope there is some improvement in people after watching this film."
At the gathering in Mumbai, Devaki rubbed shoulders with Bollywood's glamorous leading ladies, Suman Ranganathan and Perizaad Zorabian. Suman plays Devki on screen, while Perizaad plays an urban woman.
Actor Perizaad Zorabian, who plays the role of an urban woman in the film says, "I don't like to look at Devki as a victim. She's a fighter, a survivor. That's why I hope the movie inspires women."
The film has already been screened at ten International film festivals, and has won the Best Feature Film award at the Asheville Film Festival in North Carolina.
While Devakibai awaits justice with her case against the Mahapanchayat in Madhya Pradesh, the makers of the film hope to bring about a silent revolution with the films' worldwide release on 6theJanuary 2006.
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