The news of Shabana Azmi, Aparna Sen and Lillete Dubey coming together for Sonata spurred some excitement among lovers of literary cinema. The film also marks Sen's return to the director's chair after two years. The trailer for the film released on Saturday and carries the essence of female bonding in an age of loneliness.
The trailer begins by establishing the sense of loneliness and foreboding that brings these three women, played by Azmi, Sen and Dubey, together. The film explores the mid-life crisis experienced by the three women. The trailer, though incoherent, captures the essence of loneliness, foreboding and the complexity of female relationships quite beautifully. From drinking wine, and ribbing each other, to watching men in briefs and pornography, the trailer offers an interesting and humorous glimpse into their lives.
While it is easy to label this a 'feminist film', Sen emphasises on no such ideology. At one point in the trailer, the women remark on their confused existences saying, "We are not even feminists." Azmi is pitch perfect as the occassionally naughty, often mysterious banker, Dolon Sen, who lives 'her life with gay abandon'. Sen adds to the dignity and sobreity as professor Aruna Chaturvedi, while Dubey plays the seductive journalist, Subhadra Parekh.
The trio of veteran actors shares an easy chemistry on screen throughout the trailer. Armed with some introspective lines, it adds to the attraction of this wonderful trailer to the film.
Sonata is based on Mahesh Elkunchwar's play of the same name. The film is produced by HK Studios and is scheduled for theatrical release in mid-April this year.