a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

The first thing I noticed about the main review made by a person (with subject Awful propaganda, awfully done with an awful message) made on this movie is by mentioning that this is based on a real story and the woman should have done in a different way by calling police or leaving her husband. I can see the person is ignorant of how Indian women treat these kind of issues. A person from other country can not understand this situation, as I personally experienced this kind of situation with a woman with whom I was very close when I was a child. I have not only seen this woman, but seen several of my neighbor ladies having the same situation. It was very common thing to physically abuse/beat their wives in some rural parts of India and they still be obedient to their husband and husband's family. I understand that fact that movie is bad in narrating the story as it could not briefly depict the situation of that Indian woman. It really gets into you when you see the situation in real, I believe she did the mistake too, but most of the times, Indian women consider its their own mistake and be quiet about it. And I say its not always true for all Indian women, some are more educated and feel confident enough to find a solution to the problem and drag it onto the court. Some don't at all. One must stay in this situation and see what goes around in that culture and in those situations to accurately review a story. As another male, I stood in those situations where males were dominating with physical power over women, watching trying to find whats the solution. I could not do anything as a child,I pity on those women who are going though this situation. We being on a computer and read IMDb.com would never understand what goes on in real and in some homes.

Well when i bought the DVD and sat to see the movie I wasn't a bit aware of the fact that the movie is going to be so heart wrenching. The film has been superbly directed and the role of Kiranjeet Ahluwalia has been just perfectly played by Aishwarya. After reading about the story of Kiranjeet one will be able to understand how well the film has been set up. I would highly recommend the movie. Be read with your napkins as for the emotional junta this is going to be a weepy ride throughout. Nandita Das has also done justice to her role. Ironically the laws in UK are being amended for the sake of Indians and India still faces loads of such cases. All I can say about the movie is that it brought tears to my eyes and I'm not a weepy kinda person. kudos to Aishwarya and the director of the movie.

What I found most compelling about this movie is the way in which the core subject matter of the husband abusing his wife was revealed to the audience. It didn't focus entirely on the actual act of abuse which is something the movie could've easily gone in the direction of. One might argue that showing the actual scenes might've garnered more sympathy for Kiranjit but I beg to differ. I think by showing glimpses of the violence and leaving much to the imagination the director has done well to extract genuine sympathy from his audience. I must also mention that Aishwarya Rai has portrayed this role earnestly and might perhaps be the peacock feather in her acting career. She was apt, didn't over or under act and perfectly exhibited the emotional trauma that Kiranjit might've actually been through. The movie was controlled realism, in it that it portrayed the story realistically but didn't go into the gory details, which I believe isn't necessary at all.

This ought to silence the critics! She gave you awe-inspiring performances in: Chokher Bali, Guru, Raincoat, Kandukondain Kandukondain, Devdas, Umrao Jaan, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam just to mention a few. But if you still had your doubts about Aishwarya Rai's versatility as an actress then go watch her bring down the house in the thought provoking weep-fest known as Provoked. Add another feather to the woman's hat, she truly is a powerhouse performer finally coming into her own. Please ignore all the naysayers who have been detracting about her accent in the film, her character learnt English from a British woman, how else do you expect her to speak? I mean, come on people!In a nutshell (most people who went to see this already knew the story) Provoked is the journey of an emotionally, psychologically and physically battered woman from the depths of despair to the glory and grace of emancipation. Rai plays Kiranjit Ahluwalia, the virginal Punjabi mail-order-bride brought to London to wed Deepak Ahluwalia(played intensely well by the up-to-par Naveen Andrews). She is quick to discover that her fears have been confirmed when her initiation into abuse begins on her wedding night. We discover (albeit in flashback) that Kiranjit was skeptical about marrying this man she neither knew nor loved but was coerced by a band of family and friends to tie the knot which she reluctantly did. It isn't long until Deepak begins cheating on her, insulting her, beating her, raping her and you just think of anything remotely and grotesquely inhumane and I'm sure Deepak Ahluwalia does it to his wife. Truly despicable!The film itself begins with that very headlining scene I'm sure everybody shuddered to even conceive of when they first heard about the Kiranjit saga. "Asian wife sets husband ablaze while he sleeps." The camera quivers as it leads a pair of hands bearing a bucket and a lit candle in either hand walking towards an isolated room in a dimly lit house. We do not see anything of Kiranjit until she does the deed and Deepak begins to howl in horror, running Helter-Skelter eventually ending up on the front lawn where a neighbour runs out to his aid. This was the beginning of the end. Kiranjit, in a state of shock then walks over to a neighbouring stoop, in a daze sits there cuddling her two sons as she waits for the police to arrive. Provoked is very psychological, when we first meet Kiranjit, she is a woman of very little words, so the audience has to do the extra work of reading meaning into her gestures, expressions and angst. Her face implores the camera, beckoning, daring even for you put yourself in her shoes. Personally, I started crying five minutes into Provoked, and didn't stop until the very last words were spoken by Kiranjit at the end of the film. It is such a movie. Nobody should have to go through such hell.That said, I know that the film-maker's perspective is very controversial. The case itself was very controversial. There are several nuances in the film, several things that are hinted at but not directly attacked or addressed. It definitely is pointing the finger but I'm not going to take sides. Which is why I've told many people who've asked me how the film was, that it's not for everyone. I can see how Punjabi people would be offended by many elements in the film, many aspects of it. I can see why a film like this wouldn't be #1 at the box-office. It's bawdy, it's brilliant, it's gritty, it's raw, it's realistic and most importantly it DOES NOT glamorize the story it is telling.A series of catastrophic events(stemming from corrupt police officials, lazy barristers, evil mother-in-law and shady witnesses just to mention a few) eventually land Kiranjit in jail and it is there, in this new kind of hell that she truly is liberated. Rai plays Kiranjit to the pulp delicately enough as not to batter her. In the beginning, she barely spoke a word of English, so much so that in the flashback scenes whenever her husband spoke to her in English, she would always revert to speaking Punjabi in response. But in jail, she meets Veronica Scott(Played by the spectacular Miranda Richardson), her cell mate who becomes one of the best-friends and sort of a guardian angel who helps her find herself and achieve so much as an independent woman. Nandita Das (plays Radha Dalal) a fireball twenty-something leader of the Black sisters radicals hellbent springing Kiranjit from jail. Robbie Coltrane (Harry Potter's Hagrid) turns in a great performance as Kiranjit second barrister, Lord Edward Foster. Steve Mcfadden, Nicholas Irons and Raji James among others round out the stellar supporting cast. So many familiar faces! LOL.Provoked is rated "R" in its American theatrical release (for strong language, nudity, strong violence and thematic elements). I rate Provoked an A+