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{{short description|2014 Indian film}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Unfreedom
| image = Unfreedom Movie Poster 2015.jpg
| caption = English-language poster of the film
| director = [[Raj Amit Kumar]]
| 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=<ref>https://in.news.yahoo.com/banned-india-unfreedom-released-north-america-054618002.html |2015-02-11</ref>}}
| 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]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> which was released in North America on 29 May 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dark-frames-release-unfreedom-starring-772440 |title= Dark Frames to Release 'Unfreedom,' Starring Victor Banerjee |date=10 February 2015}}</ref> [[Faiz Ahmad Faiz]]'s poem, "Ye Dagh Dagh Ujala", is the inspiration behind the film.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> The film stars [[Victor Banerjee]],<ref>{{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}}</ref> [[Adil Hussain]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> and [[Preeti Gupta]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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. Then the resulting torture and violence evokes a brutal struggle of identities against "unfreedom".<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Cast==
* [[Victor Banerjee]] as Fareed Rahmani
* [[Adil Hussain]] as Devraj Singh, Leela's police officer father
* [[Bhanu Uday]] as Hussain <ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.tellychakkar.com/news/i-am-fortunate-i-am-still-fresh-when-it-comes-tv-says-bhanu-uday |title= I am fortunate I am still fresh" Upcoming movies of Bhanu Uday |date=17 July 2011 |access-date=1 October 2012}}</ref>
* [[Preeti Gupta]] as Leela Singh<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/unfreedom-actor-preeti-gupta-a-bold-portrayal/article7329488.ece|title=Preeti Gupta: A bold portrayal}}</ref>
* [[Bhavani Lee]] as Sakhi Taylor<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[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<ref>{{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}}</ref>
* [[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
* Rahul Vohra as right wing leader
* [[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
* Rahul Vohra as right wing leader

==Production==
Hari Nair is the cinematographer of the film<ref>{{cite news|url= http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-18/news-interviews/30296684_1_malayalam-film-industry-short-film-offbeat-films |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= dead |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 }}</ref> with Wayne Sharpe<ref>{{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}}</ref> and Jesse Kotansky composing the soundtrack. [[Resul Pookutty]]<ref>{{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}}</ref> did the sound design. Deepa Bajaj, who also was the post-production producer, worked on the publicity campaign and distribution of the film.

In India, the [[Central Board of Film Certification]] [[List of films banned in India|refused to certify]] the movie for public release in India.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Censorship==
In India, the film was refused certification by the Examining Committee. A revising committee of the [[Central Board of Film Certification|Censor Board]] proposed cuts to the director, [[Raj Amit Kumar]]. He refused and appealed against the Censor Board's demand for cuts to the Indian Government's Information and Broadcasting Appellate Tribunal FCAT. In response to his appeal, the authorities completely banned the film regardless of cuts.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The news of the ban gained widespread coverage in the media.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

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 and Censor Board, until there is a real change. The director is seeking support from people who believe in freedom of speech.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==See also==
* ''[[Fire (1996 film)|Fire]]'', 1996 film about a lesbian relationship that was the subject of violent protests after release in India.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.unfreedommovie.com/}}
* {{IMDb title|2049630}}
* {{rottentomatoes|unfreedom_2015}}
* {{metacritic film|unfreedom}}
* {{mojo title|unfreedom}}

[[Category:Films about religious violence in India]]
[[Category:Films set in Delhi]]
[[Category:Films set in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Films set in Chicago]]
[[Category:2010s Hindi-language films]]
[[Category:Indian LGBT-related films]]
[[Category:Lesbian-related films]]
[[Category:LGBT-related romance films]]
[[Category:Indian political drama films]]
[[Category:2014 films]]
[[Category:Fictional portrayals of police departments in India]]
[[Category:2014 directorial debut films]]

Unfreedom - Revision history

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