The World Unseen: A Movie with a Difference

The World Unseen is an award-winning movie based on the novel of the same title written by Shamim Sarif. Directed by the novel writer herself, the movie has Sheetal Sheth and Lisa Ray playing the lead roles with Parvin Dabas, Nandana Sen, David Dennis, Grethe Fox and Colin Moss joining the cast in other significant parts.



The World Unseen is a period drama set in South Africa in the 1950's. The movie is ostensibly a love story about two lesbians who live amidst a difficult environment for Indians in Africa due to the apartheid practices. Lisa Ray plays a traditional wife and mother, who is befriended by Amina, a restaurateur, played by Sheetal Sheth. The two ladies soon become more than friends and develop a relationship that creates conflict and confrontation among their families and community.



The movie reveals a fine blend of excellent story telling and directorial expertise from Shamim Sarif. She has beautifully explored the concept of sexuality and has done full justice to it. Deeply rooted to the land of South Africa, where her ancestors were raised, she was able to connect the concept of the movie with Indian and South African culture better than anyone else.



According to her "We're all brought up within certain traditions and family routines, and for me the Indian and South African cultures were a big part of my upbringing, though in a liberal way. But there was very much a sense that people should get a 'proper' job that was secure and not necessarily artistic. That getting married, in a conventional sense, was important for a woman. I tried always to follow my heart and my head, which told me what I loved and enjoyed and found ways to be rebellious without alienating too many people.
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The World Unseen trailer was premiered at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival in August 2008 and the movie got released worldwide on November 7th 2008. It received an overwhelming response from audiences and has picked up many audience awards amongst the 23 awards it's won to date. The audience could relate to the story and were impressed with the acting talents of Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth. However, a few people who got to watch the world unseen movie felt that it was not large enough scale for the various complex and controversial issues it raises. But this was a directorial choice by Shamim Sarif, to explore the human costs of oppression and desire less politically and more personally.



After The world unseen, the Enlightment Production is planning to showcase another movie called I cant think Straight, which is a romatic comedy movie again containing a lesbian theme. The movie also casts Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth in lead roles.



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