A woman’s touch

Filmmaker Tabrez Noorani’s Love Sonia, a story of love and tragedy, opened to standing ovation at the Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne (IFFM)

Art that provokes the audience’s emotions is one that has achieved its purpose. It might be disturbing but with a hard-hitting message and emotional story, Love Sonia, with a strong global ensemble cast, has been garnering rave reviews across the world.

Directed by Tabrez Noorani, the film is about a 17-year-old girl who risks her life to rescue her sister from the sex trade. Shot across the world, in India, Hong Kong and Los Angeles, it features Mrunal Thakur, Richa Chadha, Freida Pinto, Manoj Bajpayee, Rajkummar Rao, Anupam Kher, Adil Hussain, Sai Tamhankar, Sunny Parwar, Demi Moore, and Mark Duplass.

The film was recently screened at the Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne (IFFM) after being screened at a film festival in London.

“It’s exciting and such a privilege to bring Love Sonia to the Indian Film Festival Of Melbourne. We hope the movie resonates with audiences here as it has in London and I look forward to being able to interact with the audience here on the opening night,” said Noorani.

Director Raj Kumar Hirani who attended the screening said, “The most disturbing film I have ever seen in life and I am saying it in a good way. It requires tremendous courage and empathy to do this, Big salute to the entire team of Love Sonia.”

After the success of its premiere in UK, the Melbourne screening received standing ovation as well.  Noorani was present with his leading ladies Mrunal Thakur, Richa Chadha and Freida Pinto and was lauded for making a ‘heart wrenching, hard hitting and disturbingly moving’ film as mentioned by most audience members present for the screening.

Producer David Womark shared, “Both Tabrez and I are proud to have our film opening the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. Ang Lee has said that when there is a strong woman character in a story —it always grabs him. We are very fortunate in Love Sonia to tell the powerful story of a strong woman’s journey.”  Co-Producer Amar Butala said, “After a standing ovation in London, I am extremely happy that the film has opened another prestigious festival and has again been loved by the audience. We are now gearing up to bring the film back home, to India.” After watching the film actor Vicky Kaushal shared, “Stunned and shocked and so moved after watching Love Sonia. Its one of those rare movie experiences where you don’t wish to break the illusion that it was a film you were watching after you are done with it. Every moment, every performance is as real as it can get. Kudos to Tabrez for his brilliant research and direction and to each and every actor in the film.”

Love Sonia is scheduled to release in India in September