CAST
Sonali Bendre, Anant Nag, Deepti Naval, Pradeep Velankar, Shrirang Godbole, Dr. Vilas Ujavne

CREDITS
Producer & Director – Rohit Sharma, Amol Palekar
Screenplay / Dialogue – Sameer Kulkarni, Sandhya Gokhale
Cinematographer – Debu Debdhar
Sound Design – Narendra Singh
Music Concept – Sandhya Gokhale
Dhrupad Vocal – Uday Bhavalkar

STORY

The queen’s consent was not sought…
The king was left with no choice…
Only Mahattarika the chief maid, witnessed the turmoil.

Set in the 10th century B.C., this tale revolves around the then accepted social custom of NIYOGA i.e. selection of a mate for impregnating a married woman whose husband is incapable of conceiving due to ailment or impotency.

All male Senate, considering the ailment and the age of the King, declared its decision of NIYOGA for their Queen who had to accept the harsh reality against her will. As female sexuality is constructed in male terms, women are often unable to identify their own needs, wants and desires. Queen Sheelavati breaks this alienation and asserts herself against male dominance.

The film explores – the Senate members’ unending justifications for their decision; the King’s emotional turmoil during the long hours of the night of NIYOGA; the Queen’s awareness of her sexuality through the experience of that night, and their altered equations thereafter.

ABOUT THE FILM
Anaahat celebrated 60 weeks of exhibition in Pune, India
World Premiere at Pussan Film Festival at Bangkok, Palm Springs, Manchester, Oslow
Indian Panorama, IFFI, 2003