Activists hepls make LAMHAA more Realistic

Kashmiri human rights activist Parveena Angher has given Rahul Dholakia deep insights into the lives of women who mourn the disappearance of their sons

By Ashwini Deshmukh and Anil Raina (MUMBAI MIRROR; Nov 18, 2008)

Parveena Angher (circled) heading a rally in Srinagar

Rahul Dholakia has taken a page from Kashmiri human rights activist, Parveena Angher’s life for his film Lamhaa. Parveena, president of the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons (APDP) in Kashmir, has given deep insights into the lives of people whose sons did not return after they were picked up by the army under the pretext of interrogating them because they suspected them to be terrorists. Rahul owes a lot to Parveena for helping him understand the pain of these women.

Rahul Dholakia confirmed the fact and said, “It was interesting meeting Parveena. As president of APDP, she represents 10,000 families that have lost their sons and I’ve picked up shades of her life for a character in Lamhaa. This activist is played by Shernaz Patel. Parveena’s son was taken away 17 years ago and she shared her experiences with me. She has visited almost all the jails in India in search of her son and is still hoping to find him one day. It’s amazing how she is carrying on with her struggle without financial support from politicians or the Kashmiri government.”

Added Dholakia, “Shernaz’s character partly represents Parveena and partly a half-widow of Kashmir.” Half-widow? Dholakia explained, “These are women whose husbands are missing. Unsure if they are dead or alive, they wait endlessly for their husbands to return. Not that Parveena is a half-widow, it’s just that I’ve taken a leaf out of her life. I couldn’t have based the character on her completely as it would be similar to Parzania in which the mother, Sarika, is in search of her lost son.”

Shernaz Patel’scharacter partly represents Parveena and partly a half-widow of Kashmir

Parveena’s son was taken away 17 years ago and she shared her experiences with me. She has visited almost all the jails in India in search of her son and is still hoping to find him one day – RAHUL DHOLAKIA