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Acclaimed actor Pankaj Tripathi has shared a special reason why working in the upcoming film Ludo made the experience truly memorable. In the film, the actor shares screen space with his National School of Drama friend Bhanu Uday for the first time.

When Pankaj and his wife Mridula first came to Mumbai, they stayed with Bhanu. It was Bhanu who made several calls to Pankaj to come to Mumbai and try his luck in the Hindi film industry. Mridula and Pankaj stayed with Uday for six months before they moved into their own house. Now, after two decades, Pankaj and Bhanu finally got to share screen space in the upcoming film.

"Our friends backed us when we are absolutely nobody, and they matter the most. In many ways, Bhanu was that friend in my life. It was he who encouraged me to try my luck in Bollywood. Had he not insisted,...

The controversial film Unfreedom has now released in New York and Los Angeles, as well as on national digital platforms such as iTunes. Directed by Raj Amit Kumar, the film explores subjects that rock the boat…especially so in India.

Consequently, the country went as far as banning it.

Following two story lines of same-sex love in India and terrorism in the USA, discrimination and violence are prised gruesomely out in the open.

Unfreedom stars Victor Banerjee, Bhanu Uday, Bhavani Lee, Preeti Gupta, Seema Rahmani, Ankur Vikal, Samrat Chakrabarti and Adil Hussain.

Aashi Gahlot at BollySpice interviewed actress Bhavani Lee, who plays the part of spunky bisexual Sakhi Taylor.

Lee is a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, New York. She is also a Kathak dancer with the iconic Pt. Birju Maharaj as one of her gurus. Bhavani toured the world with Cirque du soleil and has done various theatre productions,...

Raj Amit Kumar's Unfreedom is a remarkably ambitious film featuring two parallel narratives concurrently set in New York and New Delhi that unflinchingly contend with gender and ethnic identity. A fundamentalist Muslim, Mohammed Husain (Bhanu Uday), arrives in New York City to assassinate a peaceful Muslim academic, Fareed (Victor Banerjee); meanwhile, in New Delhi, Leela (Preeti Gupta), a closeted lesbian Muslim decides to kidnap her bisexual lover, Sakhi (Bhavani Lee), in a halfhearted attempt to marry her.

Though it starts off as a cautiously optimistic conversion narrative, the pseudo-progressive, banned-in-India Lgbt drama Unfreedom quickly devolves into an absurdly pessimistic provocation. The film's bifurcated plot initially concerns two Muslims whose lifestyles are reluctantly defined by their families' fundamentalist beliefs: While Leela (Preeti Gupta) defies her intolerant father by publicly coming out with partner Sakhi (Bhavani Lee), Husain (Bhanu Uday) follows in his terrorist brother's footsteps by agreeing to kidnap and film the execution of Fareed (Victor Banerjee), an anti-extremist public speaker. Both characters' faith is tested by religious trial, but neither protagonist gets to decide his or her own fate. During maudlin childhood flashback...

Unfreedom: Blemished Light –“It’s the choice we make when we are the most cornered in life that defines who we are.”

Raj Amit Kumar’s “Unfreedom” is a hard-hitting portrayal of the complexity being human. Powerful and well made, the film consists of superb performances.

This film will make you squirm with anger, disgust and shock towards the inhuman society we live in. To “hate” however is never simple.

The film portrays acts of inhumanity yet it also delves into the psyche of why? Why do people choose to commit acts of horror. Hating becomes impossible as it becomes clear that the perpetrator is actually an unhealed victim. Nevertheless, we all have a choice and Unfreedom emphasises the consequence of choice.

The film explores the lives of two different characters, Leela (Preeti Gupta) in Delhi and Husain (Bhanu Uday) in New York City.

Leela is a lesbian who...

Unfreedom (Dagh Ujala) Paladin Film & Dark Frames Reviewed by: Harvey Karten for CompuServe ShowBiz. Databased on Rotten Tomatoes. Grade: C Director: Raj Amit Kumar Screenwriter: Damon J. Taylor, Raj Amit Kumar Cast: Victor Banarjee, Adil Hussain, Bhanu Uday, Pretti Gupta, Bhavani Lee, Bhavani Lee, Ankur Vikal, Seema Rahmani, Samrat Chakrabarti, Danae Nason Screened at: Review 2, NYC, 4/1/15 Opens: May 29, 2015 Director Raj Amit Kumar does not believe in extremism and neither does the majority of populations whether in the U.S. or Pakistan, Canada or Afghanistan. In distributing his film, “Unfreedom,” the director is preaching to the choir, since the audience for this drama will also be [ Read More ]

The post Unfreedom Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.

The controversial new film Unfreedom has unveiled its first theatrical trailer. Banned in India and featuring an ensemble cast including Victor Banerjee, the provocative film will be released uncut in U.S. theaters on May 29.

Unfreedom juxtaposes two powerful and unflinching contemporary stories about religious fundamentalism and intolerance. Shifting between New York and New Delhi, one tale follows a Muslim terrorist who kidnaps a liberal Muslim scholar in order to silence him, while the other charts the travails of a young woman whose devout father tries to force her into an arranged marriage, which she resists because she is secretly in love with another woman. The four characters come face to face with gruesome acts of violence in battles of identity, sexuality, religion, love, and family.

Written and directed by Kumar, the film stars Victor Banerjee (A Passage to India, Meherjaan), Bhanu Uday (Monsoon), Bhavani Lee, Preeti Gupta, Seema Rahmani (Good Night Good Morning,...

When a film is “banned” by the Censor Board of Film Certification, you know you are onto something. Well, that is exactly the case with Raj Amit Kumar’s film Unfreedom.

Homosexuality.

Islam.

Thinking outside of convention.

Unfreedom breaks all the “rules”.

The film follows two different lives, the storyline pivoting on a female same-sex relationship and the dangers of religious extremism.

Shifting between New York and Delhi, one story explores the kidnapping of a liberal Muslim scholar by a Muslim terrorist. The other story dives into a woman’s journey -a woman secretly in love with another woman. She faces the challenges of this love when she refuses an arranged marriage set up by her religious father.

Classified as “too controversial” for release in India, the film will release in North American theatres on the 29th of May 2015 and simultaneously on digital channels via Film Buff.

The juxtaposition of...

Dark Frames, a new distribution company dedicated to bringing high-quality, non-Bollywood Indian films to North American and international audiences through theatrical and digital channels, will release its first title, Unfreedom, on May 29, it was announced today by Dark Frames’ founder, Raj Amit Kumar. Veteran film marketer and distributor Mark Urman of Paladin is partnering with Dark Frames to lead the marketing and distribution of its release slate. Dark Frames will also partner with Film Buff to distribute Unfreedom at the same time on Cable VOD and other digital platforms.

Unfreedom juxtaposes two powerful and unflinching contemporary stories about religious fundamentalism and intolerance. Shifting between New York and New Delhi, one tale follows a Muslim terrorist who kidnaps a liberal Muslim scholar in order to silence him, while the other charts the travails of a young woman whose devout father tries to force her into an arranged marriage, which she resists...

Audiences should gear up for an entertaining and exciting weekend episode of 'Ek Thhi Naayka'. This week audiences will be treated to a Lucknow based story starring Aamna Shariff and Bhanu Uday. Adding a surprise element in the show is Huma Qureshi who debuts on television with 'Ek Thhi Naayka'.

The story is based in Lucknow and revolves around the lives of a married couple Razia (Aamna Shariff) and Mohsin (Bhanu Uday). The duo who has been longing for a child for long, meet Gazal. Razia immediately takes a liking towards her and brings her home. However, Razia's happiness is short lived as the family falls prey to unforeseen incidents. When Razia decides to find out the reason, Huma who plays her friend steps in and help her out of the misery and reveals about the mystery of an influence of a daayan in their lives. Will Razia be able...

New Delhi, April 3: Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi will be seen with popular TV star Aamna Shariff in the TV show "Eh Thhi Naayka".

"Ek Thhi Naayka" is a special eight-episode TV show launched on Life Ok to promote Vishal Bhardwaj and Ekta Kapoor's forthcoming co-production venture "Ek Thi Daayan", scheduled for an April 19 release.

Huma, who also features in Kannan Iyer's directorial debut, does a cameo in the episode that will be aired in two parts on Saturday and Sunday.

Based in Lucknow, the show depicts Aamna as Raziya and Bhanu Uday plays her husband Mohsin.

Huma will play Raziya's friend, who will help.

Mumbai, April 1: Actress Aamna Sharif seems to be in complete awe of Lucknow, the city of Nawabs.

She visited the city to shoot an episode of TV series "Ek Thhi Naayka".

"Very beautiful city. I love Lucknow, I love clothes and food here. It's a beautiful city," Aamna said here on the sets of "Ek Thhi Naayka".

The episode also features TV actor Bhanu Uday, who plays Aamna's husband in it. The story revolves around a Muslim couple living in Lucknow.

When asked, if she is scared of 'daayans' (witches) and ghosts, Aamna said: "If I see a 'daayan' on the screen, I get scared. I know that these things don't exist,.