Unfreedom

Plot

Set in two different cities, New York and New Delhi, the film approaches sexuality and violence head on with a focus on the Muslim and LGBT identities.

In New York arrives a fundamentalist Muslim Mohammed Hussain (Bhanu Uday), imprisoned by his brutal past, on a mission to kidnap and kill a peaceful Muslim scholar, Fareed Rahmani (Victor Banerjee). “The choices we make, when we are most cornered in life, define who we are.” Once they come face to face, the only way out is through a true examination of the bare bones of each one's existence to make a choice.

In New Delhi, Leela Singh (Preeti Singh), a closeted homosexual girl leaves her orthodox cop father Devraj Singh (Adil Hussain)'s home with a mission to kidnap her activist bisexual lover, Sakhi Taylor (Bhavani Lee) and marry her. Not only do the lovers need to come to terms with their own differences, they need to face Devraj, the truth of the society they live in.

Set in the most archetypal cities of economic and patriarchal control, four characters come face to face with gruesome acts of violence in a battle of identities against unfreedom. "Unfreedom" examines the struggle between the powerful and powerless and those who strive to stand against dominating torturing socio political injustices.

Cast

Production

Hari Nair is the cinematographer of the film with Wayne Sharpe and Jesse Kotansky composing the soundtrack. Resul Pookutty did the sound design. Deepa Bajaj, who also was the post-production producer, worked on the publicity campaign and distribution of the film.

In India, the Central Board of Film Certification refused to certify the movie for public release in India.

Censorship

In India, the film was refused certification by the Examining Committee. A revising committee of the Censor Board proposed cuts to the director, Raj Amit Kumar. He refused and appealed against the Censor Board's demand for cuts to the Indian Government's Information and Broadcasting Appellate Tribunal FCAT. In response to his appeal, the authorities completely banned the film regardless of cuts. The news of the ban gained widespread coverage in the media.

In a video released on April 9, 2015 on YouTube, Raj Amit Kumar states that the Censor Board should rate or certify a movie, instead of banning and offering cuts. He also said that he would keep sending signed petitions to the Prime Minister and Censor Board, until there is a real change. The director is seeking support from people who believe in freedom of speech.