Maati Maay', produced, written and directed by Chitra Palekar, was first premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival 2006. Right, Nandita Das plays Chandi and Atul Kulkarni is Nasru, her
husband.

Based on a short story ‘Baayen' by Mahasweta Devi, ‘Maati Maay' (in Marathi) is the saga of Chandi, a beautiful young woman from a lower caste, whose family has traditionally been in charge of a children's graveyard. When
her father dies, there being no other male in the family, Chandi inherits the job and performs it with great pride as her sacred duty. But after she gives birth to her son Bhagirath, things start to change. Being a nursing mother, Chandi now begins to get deeply affected by children's deaths.

The film is an emotional tale of a young mother who is trapped between her instincts and needs, and the
compulsions of her ancestral duty as dictated by the social system.

London Film Festival adds:

Based on a short story by Mahasweta Devi, this debut feature tells the tale of a
lone vagabond woman. Good hearted local undertaker Nasru of the untouchable caste is a devoted father to his young son Bhagirath. One day, father and son run into the evil spirit and much to Bhagirath's surprise his father seems acquainted with this dangerous outcaste. Then Nasru reveals a terrible secret to Bhagirath - she is his real mother, ostracised by the superstitious villagers because she was forced by ancestral duty to tend the graves of children. However, idealistic Bhagirath decides to challenge the system and get justice for his mother.

Palekar explores with great empathy the nuances of village life, prejudices of caste, and the traditional constraints placed on women as seen through the female protagonist, powerfully portrayed by Nandita Das.

Cary Rajinder Sawhney

Cast and Credits: