(2006, English and Punjabi) Director Jag Mundhra's film, based on actual events as told by Rahila Gupta and Kiranjit Ahluwalia in the latter's autobiography, Circle of Light, relates the story of how the case of a Punjabi housewife and mother of two children in London reformed British law to allow for a defense based on battered-woman's syndrome.

In May 1989, Kiranjit Ahluwalia (Aishwarya Rai) set her husband, Deepak (Naveen Andrews), on fire in his bed a few hours after he'd once again beaten her, the last of many incidents of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse he'd visited upon her in their ten years of marriage. Charged with attempted murder, Kiranjit, awaiting trial in her prison cell, becomes acquainted with Veronica "Ronnie" (Miranda Richardson), another victim of spousal abuse who stabbed her hubby. Her defense team, including Miriam Taylor (Rebecca Pidgeon), inform Kiranjit that under the circumstances she "cannot claim self-defense."

Coming to see Kiranjit in prison after reading about her case in the newspaper, Radha Dalal (Nandita Das) offers her nonprofit support group's assistance; but the inmate demurs, saying that inside these walls and bars, "I feel free."

Kiranjit's flashbacks provide glimpses into Deepak's drinking and irrationality, going out with other women, raping her, punching and pushing her down a flight of stairs while pregnant; the marriage had been arranged by her parents to a man, chosen by her brother-in-law, whom she didn't know.

When Deepak dies of his wounds, the charge against Kiranjit advances to murder with a mandatory life sentence. Her worries are for her two boys, living with her mother-in-law.

In the trial, declining to speak in her own defense (ashamed of her poor grasp of English, though a translator is offered to her, and convinced of her own guilt: "I sinned. I must pay") after a constable and her mother-in-law misrepresent the facts in their testimony, she is found guilty. In twelve years she will be eligible for parole.

By tricking Kiranjit's mother-in-law, "Dragon Lady," to allow her to see her children in prison, Radha wins her confidence, but Miriam tells Radha and solicitor Anil Gupta (Raji James) nothing further can be done for Kiranjit.

However, unexpectedly a powerful lawyer, Edward Foster (Robbie Coltrane), Veronica's brother, volunteers to take the case pro bono. When informed of a possible defense based on temporary insanity, Radha complains that a woman has to lose her marbles, while a man only his temper, to get justice.

In 1992, addressing the court in an effort to obtain a retrial, Foster, saying he would not presume to know what would be reasonable for a woman denied education, held largely in isolation (even denied television), treated abominably by the people supposed to protect her - including the judicial system - presents three grounds for appeal. The real crime is domestic violence, offering victims only one prison in exchange for another.

Soundtrack is by A.R. Rahman. Compare to Brick Lane.

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Copyright © 2009 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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