MUMBAI: Indian prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur has lauded the soon to be released film Provoked, saying “it brilliantly highlights the trauma and struggle associated with domestic violence which many women undergo.”

A special screening of the film, which stars Aishwarya Rai was organised for Kaur in New Delhi recently. Visibly touched by the sensitive film, Kaur has penned the laudatory comments in a letter to the producers of the film.

“The issues raised by the movie need to be widely publicised and shared so that women can courageously speak against this inhuman act,” she has noted.

Provoked is the true life depiction of Kiranjit Ahluwalia (played by Aishwarya Rai), the Asian woman who overturned the British judicial system and transformed the meaning of “provocation” in the case of physically abused women, winning justice for women subjected to domestic violence, rape and sexual abuse. The film, based on Ahluwalia’s biography Circle of Light by Rahila Gupta, follows her lonely struggle in an abusive 10-year marriage, her retaliation through the murder of her violent husband and the efforts of women activists Southall Black Sisters to bring her justice. 

Provoked is directed by Jag Mundhra and is a Media One Global Entertainment Ltd. production. The film is scheduled for a worldwide release on 6 April 2007.