Set in colonial India against Gandhi's rise to power, it's the story of 8-year-old Chuyia, who is widowed and sent to a home to live in penitence; once there, Chuyia's feisty presence deeply affects the lives of the other residents.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 17 wins & 17 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
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Sarala Kariyawasam | ... |
Chuyia
(as Sarala)
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Buddhi Wickrama | ... |
Baba
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Rinsly Weerarathne | ... |
Chuyia's Husband
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Iranganie Serasinghe | ... |
Mother in Law
(as Iranganee Serasinghe)
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Hermantha Gamage | ... |
Barber
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Ronica Sajnani | ... |
Kunti
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| Manorama | ... |
Madhumati
(as Manorma)
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Rishma Malik | ... |
Snehalata
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Meera Biswas | ... |
Gyanvati
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Vidula Javalgekar | ... |
'Auntie' Patiraji
(as Dr. Vidula Javalgekar)
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| Seema Biswas | ... |
Shakuntala
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| Lisa Ray | ... |
Kalyani
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Sanoja Bibile | ... |
Woman Bather
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| Dolly Ahluwalia | ... |
Upset Woman
(as Dolly Ahluwalia Tewari)
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| John Abraham | ... |
Narayan
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| Waheeda Rehman | ... |
Bhagavati, Narayan's Mother
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Daya Alwis | ... |
Saduram
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| Raghubir Yadav | ... |
Gulabi
(as Raghuvir Yadav)
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| Vinay Pathak | ... |
Rabindra
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| Kulbhushan Kharbanda | ... |
Sadananda
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Delon Weerasinghe | ... |
Priest
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Seema | ... |
Bahu-Rani
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Francisca Mudannayake | ... |
Little Girl
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Mulchand Dedhia | ... |
Vendor
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Isuru Navodya | ... |
Young Patiraji
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Niroshan Wijesinghe | ... |
Patiraji's Groom
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Gerson Da Cunha | ... |
Seth Dwarkanath
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| Vasant Nath | ... |
Young Gandhi Follower
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Mohan Jhangiani | ... |
Mahatma Gandhi
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Zul Vilani | ... |
Mahatma Gandhi (voice)
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Kumari Dissanayake | ... |
Widow
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S. Thevanamma | ... |
Widow
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Seelawathie Silva | ... |
Widow
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Siththi Ummah | ... |
Widow
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Fowzie Inaya | ... |
Widow
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Mala Meenachchi | ... |
Widow
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A.A. Premawathie | ... |
Widow
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Nazeema Farlya | ... |
Widow
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T. Mageswari | ... |
Widow
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H. Pathiranage | ... |
Widow
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S. Pooneswary | ... |
Widow
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S. Parameshawari | ... |
Widow
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S. Santhanam Mary | ... |
Widow
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S. Rajeshwari | ... |
Widow
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Seema Azmi | ... |
Bahu rani
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Rehan Mudannayake | ... |
Child on Gandhi's Podium
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| Deepa Mehta | ... |
Special Appearance (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Deepa Mehta | ||
Written by
| Deepa Mehta | ... | () |
| Anurag Kashyap | ... | (dialogue) |
Produced by
| Mark Burton | ... | executive producer |
| David Hamilton | ... | producer |
| Doug Mankoff | ... | executive producer |
| Dilip Mehta | ... | associate producer |
| Marek Posival | ... | associate producer |
| Ajay Virmani | ... | executive producer |
| Claire Welland | ... | line producer |
Music by
| Mychael Danna | ||
| A.R. Rahman | ||
Cinematography by
| Giles Nuttgens | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Colin Monie | ||
Editorial Department
| Tom Mayclim | ... | negative cutter |
| Arthur Montreuil | ... | color timer |
| Ricardo Olivero | ... | color timer |
| Paul Whitehead | ... | additional editor (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Uma Da Cunha | ||
Production Design by
| Errol Kelly | ... | (Design Consultant - Sri Lanka) |
Art Direction by
| Sumant Jayakrishnan | ||
Set Decoration by
| Rumana Hamied | ||
| Lal Harindranath | ||
Costume Design by
| Dolly Ahluwalia | ||
Makeup Department
| Lalith Dharmawardena | ... | assistant hair stylist |
| Hermantha Gamage | ... | daily makeup artist |
| Liz Gruszka | ... | key makeup artist |
| Regan Noble | ... | key hair stylist / wig maker: Raghubir Yadav |
| Ravi Wickramanayake | ... | hair stylist: Lisa Ray |
| Ranjit Wickramasinghe | ... | assistant makeup artist (as Ranjith Wickremasinghe) |
Production Management
| Lylie Almeida | ... | unit production manager |
| W. Michael Beard | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Dipa De Motwane | ... | unit production manager |
| Gina Fowler | ... | production manager |
| Asoka Perera | ... | production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Avani Batra | ... | third assistant director |
| Jack Boem | ... | second assistant director |
| Dylan Gray | ... | first assistant director |
| Siddique Mohamed | ... | third assistant director |
| Péter Palátsik | ... | second assistant director: India |
| Akshay Roy | ... | second second assistant director |
Art Department
| Michael Appuhamy | ... | carpenter |
| Saddika Asanka | ... | carpenter |
| K.D. Charles | ... | carpenter |
| K.D. Jagath Christy | ... | carpenter |
| Hemasiri Dias | ... | assistant property master |
| S.N.S. Samanda Dias | ... | plasterer |
| Lal Dissanayake | ... | plasterer / swing gang |
| Edward | ... | plasterer |
| Rohan Fernando | ... | carpenter |
| Ronnie Fonseka | ... | carpenter |
| W. Manjula Fonseka | ... | carpenter |
| W.L.G. Fonseka | ... | carpenter |
| Gamini | ... | facilities laborer |
| Rumana Hamied | ... | set dresser |
| Jayan Hasitha | ... | carpenter |
| Kingsley Joseph | ... | plasterer |
| K.D. Justin | ... | construction manager |
| Darshana Sampath Karunaratne | ... | props assistant |
| P.U. Karunaratne | ... | painter |
| Errol Kelly | ... | design consultant |
| Sunil Kodituwakku | ... | painter |
| Chaminda Saman Kumara | ... | carpenter |
| W. Saman Kumara | ... | carpenter |
| Lionel Liyanage | ... | property master |
| A. Magulpokuna | ... | carpenter |
| P.K. Manjula | ... | facilities laborer |
| G.T.R. Mendis | ... | carpenter |
| Victor Meniksagara | ... | props laborer |
| Murali Menon | ... | property master (as Murli Menon) |
| P.D. Michael | ... | set dressing carpenter |
| Damith Nandalal | ... | stand-by props |
| A. Nandasiri | ... | props laborer |
| Senaka Nawaratne | ... | second assistant art director / sketch artist |
| Salinda Perera | ... | carpenter |
| W. Chamitha Perera | ... | carpenter |
| Nihal Ponweera | ... | construction buyer |
| R.G. Ranoj Priyantha | ... | painter |
| Anura Priyashantha | ... | carpenter |
| B.R.C. Rajasiri | ... | swing gang |
| Welegedara Ranasinghe | ... | assistant set decorator |
| Anuradha Ranjith | ... | chief painter (as Ranjith Anuradha) |
| Pradip Redij | ... | art department |
| Mohamed Risran | ... | plasterer |
| Colin Rodrigo | ... | carpenter |
| Percy Rodrigo | ... | carpenter |
| Tuan Saiffadeen | ... | facilities laborer |
| N. Senaratne | ... | set dressing assistant |
| Aradhana Seth | ... | design consultant |
| Yogender Sharma | ... | set props |
| Roy Silva | ... | carpenter |
| Upali Silva | ... | carpenter |
| Siddarth Sirohi | ... | third assistant art director |
| Roshan Susantha | ... | plasterer |
| Anthony Thomas | ... | carpenter |
| I.M.U. Upatissa | ... | painter |
| J.M.D. Chamitha Wasantha | ... | carpenter |
| Lionel Wattege | ... | set dressing carpenter |
| L.M. Ruwan Wijenundara | ... | carpenter |
| Sunil Wijeratne | ... | assistant art director |
Sound Department
| Sylvain Arseneault | ... | sound recordist |
| Steve Baine | ... | foley artist (as Steve Bain) |
| Roberta Bratti | ... | supervisor of audio operations |
| Christian Carruthers | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Elius Caruso | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Pat Cassin | ... | boom operator |
| Shreela Chakrabartty | ... | location sound effects recordist |
| Bryan Day | ... | sound recordist |
| Lal C. Dissanayake | ... | sound recordist |
| John Dykstra | ... | adr recordist |
| Mark Gingras | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Jamie Gould | ... | re-recording assistant |
| Gina Gyles | ... | foley assistant |
| John Laing | ... | supervising sound editor |
| John Loranger | ... | first assistant sound editor (as John L'Oranger) |
| Matthew McKenzie | ... | adr recordist |
| Aditya Modi | ... | assistant sound engineer |
| Mike Paterson | ... | sound engineer: optical track |
| Karunadasa Pathiratne | ... | cable person |
| Peter Persaud | ... | foley recordist |
| S. Sivakumar | ... | sound engineer |
| H. Sridhar | ... | sound engineer |
| Andrew Tay | ... | re-recording mixer |
| John Soukup | ... | sound transfer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| R.R.B. Alphonso | ... | key special effects |
| Gamini Mallawarachchi | ... | special effects coordinator |
Visual Effects by
| Rebecca Adams | ... | production coordinator: SOHO VFX |
| Alan Bak | ... | technical supervisor |
| Tom Bak | ... | senior production supervisor |
| Jeff Baker | ... | technical supervisor |
| Drake Conrad | ... | digital color timer / digital colorist |
| Jason Giberson | ... | film scanning and recording |
| Rick Hannigan | ... | project supervisor |
| Felix Heeb | ... | film scanning and recording |
| Anna Ivanova | ... | digital compositor: SOHO VFX |
| Michael Kowalski | ... | producer: Soho vfx |
| Voytek Kufner | ... | visual effects artist |
| Wojciech Kufner | ... | 3D animator: Soho VFX |
| Matthew Lynch | ... | producer: Soho VFX |
| Diana Madureira | ... | production coordinator |
| Allan Magled | ... | visual effects supervisor: Soho VFX (as Allan Magled) |
| Paul Mantler | ... | film scanning and recording |
| Mike Mombourquette | ... | digital compositor: SOHO VFX |
| Chris Ross | ... | digital optical effects |
| Keith Sellers | ... | digital compositor: Soho VFX |
| Michael Todd Smith | ... | systems administrator: SOHO VFX |
| Derek Sunderland | ... | 3D animator: Soho VFX |
| Mark Tureski | ... | digital opticals effects |
Stunts
| Teddy Vidyalankara | ... | stunt coordinator (as Teddy Widyalankara) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Deepak Agarwal | ... | chief electrician |
| Lewis Buchan | ... | camera operator "b" camera |
| Bob Davidson | ... | gaffer: Sri Lanka |
| Mulchand Dedhia | ... | gaffer |
| K.A. Dharshana | ... | grip |
| Piyal Illeyaperuma | ... | best boy grip |
| Melanie Jeffrey | ... | second assistant camera |
| Surendra Kumar | ... | best boy electric |
| Nihal Mallawarachchi | ... | generator operator |
| Champilka Nilantha | ... | third assistant camera |
| K.K.N. Palitha | ... | electrician |
| Anura Perera | ... | grip |
| Milton Philip | ... | facilities electrician |
| Adhi Rutnam | ... | electrician |
| Hitesh Sadrrani | ... | lighting technician |
| Devyani Saltzman | ... | still photographer |
| Eberhard Schedl | ... | steadicam operator |
| Lilia Sellami | ... | first assistant camera |
| Kerry Smart | ... | first assistant camera |
| I.G. Somaratne | ... | electrician |
| L.E. Susantha Sudharshana | ... | electrician |
| D. Van Gramberg | ... | key grip (as Denham Van Gramberg) |
| Johnny Wersta | ... | dolly grip |
Casting Department
| Dinesh Anchan | ... | casting assistant |
| Kate Chantler | ... | extras casting |
| Moly Perera | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Nimal Wijesiri | ... | extras casting (as Nimal Wijesirl) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Lucky Athauda | ... | assistant costumer |
| Suraj Azmath | ... | assistant costumer |
| Yusuf Khan | ... | wardrobe supervisor |
| Hira Lol | ... | dresser |
| Inoka Nilanthi Ruhunge | ... | assistant costumer |
| Seema | ... | wardrobe assistant |
| Narinder Singh | ... | costume assistant |
| Viswa | ... | tailor |
| Yusuf | ... | costume department manager |
Location Management
| Anthony Lordon | ... | location manager |
| M. Nandadiri | ... | assistant location manager |
| Rienzie Perera | ... | assistant location manager |
Music Department
| Raqueeb Alam | ... | lyricist / playback singer |
| Ulhas Bapat | ... | musician: santoor (as Ulhas Bhapat) |
| Surjo Bhattacharya | ... | playback singer |
| Peter Breiner | ... | conductor |
| Ajoy Chakraborty | ... | playback singer (as Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty) |
| Kaushiki Chakraborty | ... | playback singer |
| Rakesh Chaurasia | ... | musician: bansuri |
| Mychael Danna | ... | musician: tanpura |
| V. Selva Ganesh | ... | musician: kanjiras (as Selva Ganesh) |
| Ganga | ... | playback singer |
| Elif Isikozlu | ... | musician: piano |
| Madhu | ... | musician: shehenai |
| Narsinh Mehta | ... | lyricist |
| Srinivas Murthy | ... | orchestral sounds |
| G.S. Sachdev | ... | musician: bass bansui/raag khamaj |
| Sadhana Sargam | ... | playback singer |
| Anoushka Shankar | ... | musician: sitar |
| Bravani Shanker | ... | musician: pakawaj, manjira, tabla |
| Richa Sharma | ... | playback singer |
| Rob Simonsen | ... | assistant to composer |
| Sukhwinder Singh | ... | lyricist / playback singer |
| H. Sridhar | ... | additional music editor |
Script and Continuity Department
| Winnifred Jong | ... | script supervisor |
| Anurag Kashyap | ... | script consultant |
Transportation Department
| M.Z. Ahmeer | ... | transportation captain |
| Tyrol Anderson | ... | driver |
| Raj Anthony | ... | driver |
| Gamini Dabare | ... | driver |
| Nihal Dabare | ... | driver |
| Sunil Jayakody | ... | driver |
| Chandimal Kodituwakku | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Nuwan Manju | ... | driver |
| Vujitha Peiris | ... | driver |
| Susil Premachandra | ... | driver |
| Sunil Premaratne | ... | picture vehicle coordinator |
| M. Premasiri | ... | driver |
| Anura Priyantha | ... | driver |
| R.M.V. Ratnayake | ... | safety driver |
| Vidura Sampath | ... | driver |
| P.A. Ajith Shantha | ... | driver |
Additional Crew
| Chris Besseling | ... | uk marketing executive: metrodome |
| Gopi Darmaratnam | ... | consultant production accountant |
| Aruni De Silva | ... | nurse |
| A.W. Dharmadasa | ... | facilities |
| Pearl Dunuwila | ... | production coordinator |
| Janice Fowlie | ... | production accountant |
| Indira Guha | ... | business and legal affairs: Telefilm Canada |
| Krishantha Gunasekera | ... | cashier / location accountant |
| Lon J. Hall | ... | legal counsel |
| Vivian Hanwell | ... | assistant to producers |
| Erin Heidenreich | ... | sales agent |
| Joshua Jason | ... | publicist |
| Sarath Jayasundara | ... | production assistant |
| Anurag Kashyap | ... | dialogue consultant: Hindi |
| Errol Kelly | ... | design consultant |
| Chaminda Meemanage | ... | cashier |
| Deepa Mehta | ... | development consultant |
| J.W. Mendis | ... | facilities manager |
| Vikramaditya Motwane | ... | choreographer |
| Vasant Nath | ... | assistant to director |
| Jagath Nissanka | ... | production assistant |
| S.A. Premadasa | ... | facilities assistant |
| Suranga Ranawaka | ... | crowd control |
| Mohamed Rizva | ... | crowd control |
| Ranjit Rubasinghe | ... | crowd control |
| Ruwan | ... | on-set craft services |
| Jayasiri Samaratunga | ... | facilities assistant |
| Michael Schaus | ... | assistant to producers |
| Elaine Scott | ... | business affairs |
| Nirmal Shah | ... | cashier |
| Aruna Shantha | ... | crowd control |
| Kingsley Umara | ... | crowd control |
| Paul Whitehead | ... | co-edited english version |
| Jasmine Wickremasekera | ... | production secretary |
| Neelawathura Wijewardana | ... | animal handler |
Thanks
| George Lucas | ... | ultra thanks |
| A.R. Rahman | ... | musical thanks |
Production Companies
- Deepa Mehta Films
- Flagship International
- David Hamilton Productions
- Echo Lake Entertainment
- Noble Nomad Pictures
- The Harold Greenberg Fund
- Téléfilm Canada
Distributors
- Dendy Films (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Universum Film (UFA) (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Mongrel Media (2005) (Canada)
- Prorom Media-Trade (2005) (Romania)
- Filmcoopi (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- Films sans Frontières (2006) (France) (theatrical)
- Fox Searchlight Pictures (2006) (United States) (theatrical)
- Golden Village Pictures (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
- Arthaus (2007) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Metrodome Distribution (2007) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Sony BMG Music Entertaintment (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Casablanca Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Umbrella Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
- Europa Filmes (2010) (Brazil) (DVD)
- Universum Film (UFA) (2018) (Germany) (DVD)
- Metrodome Distribution (2007) (United Kingdom)
- YouTube (India) (video) (VOD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment (dollies)
- Cine-Byte Imaging (digital intermediate)
- Cinetic Media (sales)
- Deluxe Post-Production (sound post-production)
- Foley One (post-production sound services)
- Hall Webber (legal services)
- Kate's Casting (extras casting)
- Saregama HMV (soundtrack released by: India)
- Urban Post Production (sound post-production)
- Varèse Sarabande (soundtrack released by)
- William F. White International (grip and lighting equipment)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
A thesis picture. In 1938, Gandhi's party is making inroads in women's rights. Chuyia, a child already married but living with her parents, becomes a widow. By tradition, she is unceremoniously left at a bare and impoverished widows' ashram, beside the Ganges during monsoon season. The ashram's leader pimps out Kalyani, a young and beautiful widow, for household funds. Narayan, a follower of Gandhi, falls in love with her. Can she break with tradition and religious teaching to marry him? The ashram's moral center is Shakuntala, deeply religious but conflicted about her fate. Can she protect Kalyani or Chuyia? Amid all this water, is rebirth possible or does tradition drown all?
Written by |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Redemption is within the soul. See more » |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | George Lucas took out a full-page ad in "Variety" to support Deepa Mehta in her struggle to make this film when Indian authorities made clear their intentions to shut the production down. See more » |
| Goofs | Kalyani's dog appears older in the scene in which it escapes than the next time it is shown. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in The 79th Annual Academy Awards (2007). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Aoyo Re Sakhi See more » |
| Quotes |
[from trailer]
Narayana: All the old traditions are dying out. Kalyani: But what is good should not die out. Narayana: And who will decide what is good and what is not? Kalyani: You! See more » |