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Director Guild of America's Independent Directors Committee presents
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The DGA screens unreleased low budget
and independent features on
designated Friday afternoons.

Sandstorm

Directed by: Jag Mundhra

A rural, low-caste woman working for the Rajasthan's government's women's development program called "Saathin" is gang-raped by upper-caste men in her village after she speaks up against the prevalent custom of child marriages. Instead of hanging her head in shame, as she was expected to do, she decides to knock on the doors of justice. Her real rape begins when she is made to run from pillar to post in a judicial system corrupted by sexism, chauvinism, feudalism and political opportunism. Caught in the middle of a storm created by the international media, she is made a pawn in the political chess game between the ruling party's Central government and the opposition party's State government. Against all odds, she maintains her dignity as a woman, and moves from being a victim to an activist in a shocking true story, set in the picturesque sand dunes of colorful, contemporary Rajasthan.

The film was initially banned in India, in spite of receiving 12 national and international awards. The uncut director's version will be screened at DGA.

Starring: Nandita Das (Earth, Fire), Raghuvir Yadav (Salaam Bombay, Bandit Queen), Deepti Naval (Kamla), Rahul Khanna (Earth), Laila Rouass (Split-Wide-Open), Govind Namdeo (Bandit Queen) and Gulshan Grover (Jungle Book II, Earth).

The film is partly in English and partly in the Rajasthani dialect of the Hindi language, with English Subtitles.

Running time: 120 minutes
Success story:

Picked up by Eros Entertainment for domestic distribution.

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