Shabana appeals for raising voice against gender disparity

Six short films featuring Bollywood actresses including Shabana Azmi, Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut and talking about various issues affecting women will be screened at Inox properties across the country.

INOX leisure, a multiplex chain, is providing a platform to Women in Film and Television (WIFT) to assist in creation of awareness about the need for empowerment of Indian women to assist them in their struggle for independence. 

This will be done through exclusive screenings of a series of six short films starring Shabana, Priyanka, Kangana, Dia Mirza, Shriya Saran and Rituparna Sengupta at Inox properties in India.

The films will feature the actresses talking about various issues affecting women like dowry, sexual harassment, female foeticide, teach a girl child, child marriage and domestic violence.

As a part of the initiative, starting August 15, the multiplex will screen a series of six films, each of a duration of 40 seconds, across all its multiplexes for one month. 

Ishita Jain, wife of Siddharth Jain, Director, INOX leisure ltd., said in a statement: “Utilising the powerful medium of film, we want to contribute towards enhancing the quality of life and economic well-being of the local populace in general, women and children in specific. We share the WIFT philosophy of empowering women in our industry to achieve their potential by providing them with opportunities to grow. 

"We are happy to present these films at our multiplexes and hope that our network across the country will assist in delivering the message about empowerment of women across the nation.”

Petrina D'Rozario, Founder Director, WIFT India, said: “As filmmakers, our craft can construct or destruct. We have used our craft and the medium of film to talk about some issues that plague our nation. No other medium has such a wide appeal and ability to hold the audience's attention. We hope we can leave behind a residue of thought that gender violence needs to stop.”