/>
Onir's concern for socio-sexual politics continues to grow. He's all set to shoot a film called Afia about the sperm-donation
mafia.
It's the story of a 40-plus Bengali woman whose biological clock is ticking away and needs to have a baby urgently.
Though he
isn't talking about it Onir is apparently in discussion with Rani Mukherjee, Bipasha Basu and Nandita Das for the main part. He needs a
Bengali actress of a certain age and stature. But some of the names he has approached are unwilling to play a 40-year old
woman.
The interesting part of the project is that Onir was supposed to make Afia with Kalki Koechlin. But has now dropped her from the
project.
Protests Onir, "True I was making a film called Afia with Kalki. But that was different story about the misappropriation of NGO funds.
Then I came across interesting facts about sperm donation and I wanted to make a film on that instead."
Onir's research has shown acute irregularities in the procedure of clinical motherhood. "The whole system of donating sperms in our
country is murky.
Do you know women are legally allowed to have sex with sperm donors if they choose to do so? I found the
idea appalling. My film is about a woman who insists on tracking down her sprerm donor although there's a secrecy clause binding both
parties in this sensitive transaction."
Onir shoots Afia in Kolkata next month.
In the meanwhile the Triangle Media Group will host its 2008/2009 Biennial Global.
Awards evening in an exclusive by-invitation-only academic lecture awards presentation ceremony on Sunday 7 February 2010 at the
Cineworld Cinema Nottingham.
Nandita Das will be awarded for her film Firaaq, who will deliver a video link directly from Mumbai. Onir will be present to receive an
award for his forthcoming film I am based on the violations of human rights which will also be previewed.
In addition, there will
also be a special screening of his critically acclaimed film based on HIV and Aids My Brother Nikhil starring Juhi Chawla and Sanjay Suri.
Saturday, February 06, 2010 14:37 IST