'Provoked': Mundhra

New Delhi, Apr 1 (UNI) His films have always generated media focus for their controversial themes or their burning issues like his earlier film 'Bawander'.

For the US-based Indian filmmaker Jagmohan Mundhra, however, the tremendous media attention generated by his latest film 'Provoked', starring former Miss World Aishwarya Rai in a central role, has been caused also by the "much-in-the-news" marriage between Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan on April 19.

Based on the real life traumatic story of a battered Punjabi housewife Kiranjit Ahluwalia, who sets her husband afire being unable to bear his brutality, 'Provoked', coming just two weeks before the Abhishek-Aishwarya marriage, has consequently created tremendous curiosity among cinegoers as well as the media.

For Mundhra, though, the huge publicity generated by the presence of Aishwarya Rai and, now, by her wedding with Abhishek Bachchan, is definitely something that is welcomed considering that the film seeks to bring to light a burning issue like domestic violence faced by women across the globe.

''The Aishwarya-Abhishek marriage on April 19 has definitely helped generate curiosity for my film,. In that sense, yes, it will bring the audiences to the theatres to watch Aishwarya,''Mundhra told UNI on the eve of the film's worldwide release on April 6.

However, while admitting that Aishwarya, being the global celebrity as she is, would help focus attention to a socially relevant film like 'Provoked', Mundhra nevertheless feel that in the ultimate analysis it is the film's merit and its storyline that determines its level of success at the box office.

''Admittedly, one of my reasons for casting Aishwarya Rai in the film was to add a brand value to it which would bring audiences to the theatres to watch it. Now, with the Aishwarya-Abhishek marriage round the corner, the curiosity level for the film is definitely higher. However, ultimately, it will be the film's story and cinematic merit that will determine its success at the theatres,''Mundhra said.

''Story of 'Provoked' is inspired by Ahluwalia's biography Circle of Light by Rahila Gupta, a book which traces her lonely struggle in an abusive 10-year marriage, her retaliation through the murder of her violent husband and the efforts of women activists Southall Black Sisters to bring her justice,''he said.

'Provoked' stars Aishwarya Rai as a battered Punjabi wife who is sentenced to life for murdering her alcoholic abusive husband but is later pardoned by the English courts by an unprecedented appeal that redefined the laws of Provocation in future battered spouse legal cases.

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