Based on the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, a Punjabi woman, who was abused by her husband for 10 years. After killing her husband in self-defense, Ahluwalia is imprisoned as those close to her fight to set her free.
'Provoked' is the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia, a Punjabi woman who moved to London after marrying Deepak Ahluwalia. Her husband seemed caring at first, then started to beat her up. He started drinking a lot and sleeping around with other women. He also subjected her to spousal rape. After 10 years and two children with him, out of fear she sets him on fire while he is sleeping, two hours after another scene of domestic violence. He succumbs to the injuries and she is sentenced to life in prison for premeditated murder. However, the Southall Black Sisters, an NGO organization which fights against domestic violence, helps her get justice. After spending 3 1/2 years in jail, she is set free and reunited with her two children.—A. Bose
Kiranjit was born in a Punjabi-speaking Sikh family in Chak Kalla in Punjab, the youngest of 9 siblings. Her dad passed away a few months after her birth; her mom passed away when she was 16. Kiran wanted to become a lawyer, but her marriage was arranged with Deepak Ahluwalia of London, England, who lived with his mom. She hoped to continue her education, but was prevented by Deepak, who became increasingly alcoholic, and abusive--both physically and verbally, even sexually molesting her, and having multiple relationships with other females. Things only got worse even after the birth of two sons, Sandeep and Rajeev. On May 9, 1989, the Police and Fire Department were summoned to their residence on reports of Deepak sustaining numerous burns as a result of a fire. A hospitalized Deepak complains that Kiran attempted to kill him by setting his bed afire. As a result Kiran is arrested, tried in Court, and would have likely got a prison sentence for manslaughter--which was changed to murder--as Deepak dies. After a quick trial, she is found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Will Kiran be ever set free or will she be spending her life behind bars, away from her two sons, and if she decides to appeal, on what grounds? She herself believes that she has committed an unforgivable crime.—rAjOo ([email protected])
May 9th, 1989, London. Kiranjit is accused of intentionally setting fire to her husband Deepak. Deepak ran down the stairs and ended up in the front lawn, where somebody noticed him and called the ambulance. In the hospital, Deepak states that Kiranjit tried to kill him.
The police constable O'Connell (Nicholas Irons) arrests Kiranjit based on evidence & send her to prison. Deepak's room had a vat of oil which was poured on him before setting him on fire. During interrogation, Kiranjit admits that she only wanted to hurt Deepak as he had hurt her previously.In prison, Kiranjit has to deal with the trauma of giving up all her jewelry including her Kada and her Mangalsutra. She is then forced to strip naked in front of a prison female guard to change into prison clothes.Before trial the UK court assign Kiranjit a lawyer Miriam Taylor (Rebecca Pidgeon) who wants to understand the motivation behind Kiran's actions.
Kiranjit Ahluwalia (Aishwarya Rai), a Punjabi woman, marries Deepak Ahluwalia (Naveen Andrews) in an arranged marriage and moves to South Hall, UK with him to be closer to his family. Initially he seems caring and affectionate towards her but soon enough the true colors of her husband begin to show as Deepak gradually reveals a darker, threatening, and even Sociopathic side of himself. Deepak won't allow Kiran to wear western clothes and would beat for dancing with his friend Ravi (Ray Panthaki) at weddings, which Deepak himself insisted.
Charged with attempted murder, her case comes to the notice of a group of South Asian social workers running an underfunded organization called the Southall Black Sisters. Radha Dalal (Nandita Das) from the Black Sisters visits Kiran in prison to understand her case. Jamila (Shaheen Khan) and Asha (Karen David) are Radha's colleagues.Deepak dies from his injuries in the hospital, turning it into a murder case.
Kiran tells Radha that she feels freer in prison that she ever did in 10 years of marriage to Deepak. After enduring ten years of abuse and having two children with him, Kiranjit, unable to bear the brutality and repeated sexual assaults at the hands of her husband any longer, sets fire to his feet while he is sleeping, unintentionally killing him.
Deepak's mother testifies against Kiran in court & refuses to give any witness to allegations of sexual assault & torture that Kiran has made against Deepak. O'Connell is asked to testify on Kiran's mental state when she was arrested. The detective in charge pressurizes O'Connell to testify that Kiran was fully mentally alert and in her senses.The defense lawyer presents a doctor from an emergency room who treated Kiran several times for signs of domestic abuse. But Kiran herself refuses to testify against Deepak as she deems it too shameful.
Kiranjit is sentenced to life imprisonment with possibility of parole in 12 years. She befriends her cellmate, a Caucasian woman named Veronica Scott (Miranda Richardson), who teaches her English. Veronica is also friends with several girls in the prison and stands up for Kiranjit against the local prison bully.Veronica introduces Kiran to her friends Jackie (Deborah Moore), Lula (Maxine Finch), and Galdys.Radha manages to bring Kiran's kids to prison by making her mother-in-law believe that it is a court order. Radha also connects with Miriam to get work started on Kiran's appeal. Miriam says that she worked very hard on the case, and didn't charge Kiran for it. She says that the ruling was right as per the law, and refuses to file an appeal, even though she sympathizes with Kiran.
One night, Veronica sees Kiran waking up from a nightmare and crying uncontrollably. Kiran tells her life's story to Veronica.Soon, its over a year since Kiran was jailed. Radha tells Kiran that the is court is not giving a date for the hearing of her appeals. Veronica realizes that Kiran needs a good barrister, and they don't have one as they don't have any money.
Veronica enlists her brother, Lord Edward Foster QC (Robbie Coltrane), a highly respected Queen's Counsel, to aide in Kiranjit's appeal. Edward, in turn, realizes Kiranjit's importance to his sister and the importance of her case. His sister's request has additional meaning given that Veronica would not let him help her with her own appeal due to their on-off relationship since childhood.
Before Kiranjit's appeal hearing the South Hall Black Sisters bring her plight to the attention of the media by organizing rallies to gather public support for her freedom. O'Connell comes forward and admits that he lied on stand, the night he arrested Kiran she was stunned and not in her senses.Her case goes for appeals in July 1992. Kiran is ultimately freed by the judicial system in a landmark case called "R vs Ahluwalia", redefining provocation in cases of battered women in the UK. The term provocation was restricted to a specific event of violence but is now changed to include the systematic torture and repression over a prolonged period of time which leads to a sudden burst of anger and frustration over an unexpected event.She was re-convicted from murder to manslaughter; but released with time served.
Kiranjit is reunited with her children and subsequently given an award by Cherie Blair, for her crusade against domestic violence. At last, she leads a happy life with her children in UK.
