Review Summary

Veteran filmmaker V. Shantaram directs this feminist melodrama. The film centers on Neera, called Nirmalal in the Hindi version (Shanta Apte), an idealistic young lass who is forced to marry an aging widower named Kakasaheb (Keshavrao Date). Though a forward-thinking and wealthy lawyer, the old man is unable to convince her to consummate the marriage. Neera argues that she can live with suffering but not with the injustice of this coerced coupling. Neera meets with terrific resistance from her aunt (Vimala Vasisth), her mother-in-law, and her husband's lecherous stepson. After a long discussion with his daughter, who is roughly Neera's age, Kakasaheb agrees to the only way out -- suicide. Just before he snuffs it, he implores his would-be wife to find a younger husband. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi