Raveena Tandon, a star of 1990s Hindi cinema, has chosen a serious subject for her comeback film. The makers of Maatr have released the teaser and it promises to be a hard-hitting social drama which will throw light on the evil that plagues the nation — rape.
The 46-second teaser declares its motive — a fight not just against rape, but also against misogynistic mindsets, and against the rich and the powerful who try to justify sexual crimes.
The ‘justice or justify’ line is a clear indication of the issue that Maatr seeks to address. Maatr is likely to be a film that will expose all such biased, sick mindsets and raise a voice against such injustice. Tandon’s grief-stricken face says it all — her character is out for revenge and justice.
Tandon was last seen in a guest appearance in a Bombay Velvet (2015) song. While it is too early to say anything on the basis of the teaser, Tandon had played a similar character in the 2004 film Jaago, where her character avenges the rape of her daughter, played by Hansika Motwani.
In the past, there have been people, especially from the political class, who have trivialized the social evil of rape by questioning the character of women. President Pranab Mukerjee’s son Abhijeet had invited the wrath of the nation when he had mocked the anti-rape protestors with his ‘painted’ and ‘dented’ remark.
Controversial religious figure Asaram, who is currently in jail in connection with the rape of a girl, had insulted Nirbhaya, the 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim, by suggesting that she should have complied with the rapists as that would have saved her life.
Most recently, Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi had courted controversy by mocking the Bangalore molestation victim, blaming Western culture and women’s attire for such crimes.
Directed by Ashtar Sayed, Maatr is set to be released on 21 April. Meanwhile, watch the teaser: