Watch Widow of Silence

The movie Widow of Silence, released in 2018, is a poignant and gripping tale about a woman's fight for basic human rights against the oppressive patriarchal society in the Indian-istered region of Kashmir. The story revolves around a character named Aasia (played by Shilpi Marwaha), a young Kashmiri woman living in a village on the border between India and Pakistan. Aasia has been living in the village with her young daughter and mother-in-law for years, waiting for an official confirmation of her husband's death, who went missing years ago during the dark phase of the region's militancy.

Without any evidence or acknowledgment of her husband's death, Aasia's life is in limbo - she cannot re-marry, apply for government welfare schemes, or move out of her in-law's house without her husband's death certificate.

Despite the constant istrative hurdles, Aasia works as a nurse in a local hospital to provide for her family. Her struggle to make ends meet and navigate the patriarchal bureaucracy is a daily reminder of her precarious situation.

The storyline takes a drastic turn when the Indian istration announces a sudden crackdown in the valley, including a temporary ban on internet and communication services. Aasia's struggle takes a darker turn when the police barge in one night and take her into custody, claiming that her missing husband was a militant and that she has been shielding him from authorities.

Desperate to prove her innocence and protect her family from possible repercussions, Aasia reaches out to a local human rights activist (Noorjahan) for help. The activist tries to intervene, but the corrupt system seems too complex to tackle.

Aasia's attempts to prove her innocence unfold in a series of intense and emotionally charged scenes with a cast of powerful women - her daughter, mother-in-law, activist friend, and a former neighbor and childhood friend, Zaba Banoo.

The movie's strength lies in its ability to capture the plight of Kashmiri women who have been caught up in the region's conflict for decades. The film sheds light on the traumatic consequences of the military occupation and the gender-specific violence that women face in the region.

The director Praveen Morchhale successfully captures the intense emotions of the characters, as well as the region's picturesque landscape, through skillful cinematography. Ankit Sagar's background score adds emotional depth to the film and helps viewers feel the characters' anguish and despair.

In conclusion, Widow of Silence is a moving and thought-provoking movie that highlights the struggles of women living in a militarized zone. The film is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war and conflict and the urgent need for better policies to protect women's rights in the region.

Widow of Silence is a 2021 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 26 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 72.