Jitendra Mishra, who co-produced award winning film I am Kalam, has inked a worldwide sales and distribution deal with veteran Hindi filmmaker and writer Sagar Sarhadi for his upcoming movie Chausar (Women at Stake).
The film is not just another tale of men exploiting women. “It’s a bold attempt to unveil the reality of women in the society. The movie’s story revolves around Jashoda, a beautiful girl, interwoven with her father’s verdict, husband’s plight and arbiter’s decision,” says Titilagarh-born Mishra.
The movie, featuring award-winning actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Amruta Subhash of Firaaq fame, was shot in a small village in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Veteran poet Nida Fazli had penned the lyrics for the movie, while Sudeep Banerjee is credited with its music.
Mishra, founder of Delhi-based Flair Communication, a movie production house which also deals with film marketing, promotion and distribution, feels Chausar has the potential to be a path-breaking woman-oriented film.
“Indian women have always been an example of sacrifice. In ancient and medieval times, women were not even considered as human beings in the male dominant society. It is peak time for women all over India to protest against these cruel practices,” he said.
Through Sagar Sarhadi, he aims to showcase this untold story to the world audience. Mishra plans to convert the film digitally and release it worldwide by the end of this year.
“We are planning to improve the quality of this film including some colour correction works. We are in talks with some corporate houses here for funding and certain international agencies in America for marketing in overseas market. We will send this movie for some film festivals in August and September as well,” says Mishra, who has around 10 years of experience in film-making.
“Sagar Sarhadi, who is known for never compromising on his skills for money, had tried to convey this serious message to all through Chausar in a light way with great music and screenplay. Everybody should watch this film,” added Mishra.
Sagar Sarhadi began his remarkable journey as a scriptwriter with Yash Chopra’s Kabhi Kabhie and Silsila, both starring Amitabh Bachchan.
“He also wrote the dialogues for Chandni, Deewana, Faasle, Karobaar and Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. As a director, Sarhadi worked on the critically acclaimed Bazaar as well as films like Lorie and Tere Shahar Mein,” Mishra said.
Another movie that Mishra has produced is Desires of Heart which is a period film that shows Indian life when the British ruled the country. It centres on a beautiful girl who commits Sati by jumping into the funeral pyre of her husband over a century ago and is later reborn in a Western country.