unfreedom

{{Infobox film

| name = Unfreedom

| image = Unfreedom Movie Poster 2015.jpg

| caption = English-language poster of the film

| producer = Raj Amit Kumar

| writer = Raj Amit Kumar
Damon J Taylor

| starring = Victor Banerjee
Adil Hussain
Bhanu Uday
Preeti Gupta
Bhavani Lee
Ankur Vikal
Seema Rahmani
Samrat Chakrabarti

| music = Wayne Sharpe
Jesse Kotansky

| cinematography = Hari Nair

| editing = Atanu Mukherjee

| studio = Dark Frames
69 Productions

| distributor =

| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2014|12||Kerala International Film Festival|2015|05|29|ref1=https://in.news.yahoo.com/banned-india-unfreedom-released-north-america-054618002.html |2015-02-11}}

| runtime = 103 minutes

| country = United States
India

| language = English
Hindi

| budget =

| gross =

}}

Unfreedom: Blemished light (Hindi title: Dagh Ujala) is a 2014 Indian drama film by Raj Amit Kumar,{{cite web|url= http://in.news.yahoo.com/american-indian-director-amit-blemished-light-072053554.html |title= American Indian director Amit to make BLEMISHED LIGHT|date=6 July 2011 |access-date=21 February 2013}} which was released in North America on 29 May 2015.{{cite web|url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dark-frames-release-unfreedom-starring-772440 |title= Dark Frames to Release 'Unfreedom,' Starring Victor Banerjee |website= The Hollywood Reporter |date=10 February 2015}} Faiz Ahmad Faiz's poem, "Ye Dagh Dagh Ujala", is the inspiration behind the film.{{cite web |url= http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5264990 |title= Victor Banerjee to star in Blemished Light |date= 6 July 2011 |access-date= 21 February 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120327075922/http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5264990 |archive-date= 27 March 2012 |url-status= dead }} The film stars Victor Banerjee,{{cite web|url= http://limelight.mid-day.com/specials/2011/jul/170711-Today-no-one-respects-age-experience-talent-or-discipline.htm |title= 'Today, no one respects age, experience, talent or discipline' |date=17 July 2011 |access-date=21 February 2013}} Adil Hussain,{{cite web|url= http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/adil-hussain-is-bollywood-life-of-pi-english-vinglish-ishqiya/1/239865.html |title= 'Grey Matter – Bollywood's latest discovery – Adil Hussain seeks complex roles in the industry' |date=28 December 2012 |access-date=28 February 2013}} and Preeti Gupta.{{cite web|url=http://www.mumbaimirror.com/entertainment/bollywood/IIT-screens-banned-film-about-lesbians/articleshow/47682453.cms|title=IIT SCREENS BANNED FILM ABOUT LESBIANS}}

The story revolves around a Muslim fundamentalist in New York who kidnaps a liberal Muslim scholar with an intent to kill, while a closeted lesbian in New Delhi kidnaps her bisexual lover with the intent of being together. The resulting torture and violence lead to a brutal struggle of identities against "unfreedom".{{cite web|url= http://www.medianama.com/2015/02/223-raj-amit-kumar-to-use-crowdfunding-campaign-to-release-his-film-unfreedom/ |title= Raj Amit Kumar to use crowdfunding campaign to release his film, Unfreedom |date=17 February 2015}}

In India, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) refused to certify the movie for public release in India.{{cite web|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/news/article/Film-on-Homosexuality-UnFreedom-Banned-in-India/888779 |title= Film on Homosexuality UnFreedom Banned in India |date=30 March 2015 |access-date=3 April 2015|work=Outlook}}

Cast

Victor Banerjee as Fareed Rahmani
Adil Hussain as Devraj Singh, Leela's police officer father
Bhanu Uday as Hussain {{cite web |url= http://www.tellychakkar.com/news/i-am-fortunate-i-am-still-fresh-when-it-comes-tv-says-bhanu-uday |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130411215923/http://www.tellychakkar.com/news/i-am-fortunate-i-am-still-fresh-when-it-comes-tv-says-bhanu-uday |url-status= dead |archive-date= 11 April 2013 |title= I am fortunate I am still fresh" Upcoming movies of Bhanu Uday |date= 17 July 2011 |access-date= 1 October 2012 }}
Preeti Gupta as Leela Singh{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/unfreedom-actor-preeti-gupta-a-bold-portrayal/article7329488.ece|title=Preeti Gupta: A bold portrayal|newspaper=The Hindu |date=18 June 2015 |last1=K |first1=Bhumika }}
Bhavani Lee as Sakhi Taylor{{cite web |url= http://www.demotix.com/news/1636721/actor-bhavani-lee-shoots-blemished-light#media-1636712 |title= Actor Bhavani Lee shoots for 'Blemished Light' |date= 25 November 2012 |access-date= 1 December 2012 |archive-date= 3 July 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150703114829/http://www.demotix.com/news/1636721/actor-bhavani-lee-shoots-blemished-light#media-1636712 |url-status= dead }}
Ankur Vikal as Najeeb
Seema Rahmani as Chandra
Samrat Chakrabarti as Anees
Danae Nason as Jana
Andrew Platner as Mitch
Danny Boushebel as Malik
Dilip Shankar as Sameer
Alyy Khan as Alyy{{cite web |url= http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/trade-news/american-indian-director-amit-to-make-blemished-light/14aea554-52e3-4341-8106-ab8fe2a88ec1/index.htm |title= American Indian director Amit to make BLEMISHED LIGHT |date= 17 July 2011 |access-date= 21 February 2013 |archive-date= 26 July 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130726150053/http://www.bollywoodtrade.com/trade-news/american-indian-director-amit-to-make-blemished-light/14aea554-52e3-4341-8106-ab8fe2a88ec1/index.htm |url-status= dead }}
Kuldeep Sareen as Janaka
Jatin Sarna as Janaka's Officer
Shayan Munshi as Anand, Sakhi's beau
Swaroopa Ghosh as Eiravati
Yash Kansara as young Hussain
Rayvin Disla as Jordan
John Castaldo as Morris
Nalin Singh as Jishnu
Bubbales Sabharwal as Dr Malik
Nikki Chawla as Alvina, Hussain's mother
Kedarnath as Fiamanullah
Sudeep Solanki as Jimmy, art buyer
Darlene Heller as Jessica
Sachin Verma as Hiresh
Manoj Bakshi as Prithu
Vanya Joshi as Ujas

Production

Hari Nair is the cinematographer of the film{{cite news|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/regional/news-interviews/Hit-by-the-Shutter-bug/articleshow/10399422.cms |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130411035227/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-18/news-interviews/30296684_1_malayalam-film-industry-short-film-offbeat-films |url-status= live |archive-date= 11 April 2013 |title= Hit by the shutter bug |date=18 October 2011 |work= The Times of India |access-date=21 June 2012 }} with Wayne Sharpe{{cite news|url= http://travel.cnn.com/mumbai/life/wayne-sharpe-013146 |title= Wayne Sharpe: American composer in Bollywood |date=15 June 2010 |access-date=14 September 2013 |work=CNN}} and Jesse Kotansky composing the soundtrack. Resul Pookutty{{cite news|url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/worldcinema/america-has-banned-more-films-than-india-resul-pookutty/article1-1332917.aspx |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150401202513/http://www.hindustantimes.com/worldcinema/america-has-banned-more-films-than-india-resul-pookutty/article1-1332917.aspx |url-status= dead |archive-date= 1 April 2015 |title= America has banned more films than India: Resul Pookutty |date=1 April 2011 |access-date=3 April 2015 |work=Hindustan Times}} did the sound design. Deepa Bajaj, who also was the post-production producer, worked on the publicity campaign and distribution of the film.

Censorship

In India, the film was refused certification by the CBFC Examining Committee. A revising committee of the Censor Board proposed cuts to the director, Raj Amit Kumar. He refused and appealed against the CBFC's demand for cuts to the Government of India's Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT). In response to his appeal, the authorities completely banned the film regardless of cuts.{{cite news|url= http://www.mumbaimirror.com/entertainment/bollywood/Board-bans-film-on-gays-claims-itll-ignite-unnatural-passion/articleshow/46720831.cms |title= BOARD BANS FILM ON GAYS, CLAIMS IT'LL IGNITE 'UNNATURAL PASSION' |date=28 March 2015 |access-date=3 April 2015|work=Mumbai Mirror}} The news of the ban gained widespread coverage in the media.{{cite news |url= http://www.timesnow.tv/CBFC-bans-Unfreedom-film-in-India/videoshow/4474546.cms |title= After Unfreedom Ban, filmmakers come together in the fight against Censorship |date= 1 April 2015 |access-date= 3 April 2015 |work= Times Now |archive-date= 7 April 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150407054559/http://www.timesnow.tv/CBFC-bans-Unfreedom-film-in-India/videoshow/4474546.cms |url-status= dead }}{{cite news|url= http://www.batori.in/entertainment/2015/06/28/film-review-un-freedom/ |title= Film review: Un-Freedom |date=28 June 2015 |access-date=28 June 2015|work=Batori}}

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 of India and Censor Board, until there is a real change. The director is seeking support from people who believe in freedom of speech.{{cite news|url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/Unfreedom-director-calls-for-freedom-of-expression/articleshow/46916082.cms |title= 'Unfreedom' director calls for freedom of expression |date=14 April 2015 |access-date=14 April 2015|work=Times of India}}