Vishwajeet Pradhan Movies
In India, "Hijras" are eunuchs, or transgendered people who resemble men but have the sexual characteristics of both genders. While hijras are widely regarded bearers of good luck and are often asked to bless weddings and newborn children, they are also often discriminated against and often live on the outskirts of society. The drama Shabnam Mousi was inspired by the true story of one hijra who overcame prejudice to launch a successful career in politics. Shabnam (Ashutosh Rana) was born to a wealthy and privileged family, but when a band of eunuchs came to bless him not long after he was born, they discovered he too was a hijra, and the infant was sent to live with others of his kind. Shabnam still has the love and support of his family, but not all the other hijras are so lucky, and one of the members of the group (Vishwajeet Padhan) kills Shabnam's brother in a fit of rage. Shabnam is blamed for the crime, and goes underground, relocating to a town where he comes to the rescue of a woman being sexually assaulted by a group of men. Shabnam's heroic act makes him a minor celebrity in the village, and he decides to use his new recognition to help drive a corrupt politician (Govind Namdeo) from office in an upcoming election. But will Shabnam's new life in politics raise questions about his old life as a fugitive? ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ashutosh Rana, Vijay Raaz, (more)
A young courtesan kidnapped from her home and sold into slavery ultimately transcends her grim fate in director J.P. Dutta's adaptation of author Mirza Haadi Ruswa's classic 1905 novel. Previously adapted for the screen to great acclaim in 1981, Ruswa's novel tells the story of a middle class girl kidnapped by a habitual offender who had been imprisoned for ten years as a result of her father's damning testimony. Determined to curse his accuser with a fate worse than death, the vengeful ex-convict spirited the man's daughter away and sold the young girl - then known as Amiran - to a brothel in Lucknow. Subsequently given the name Umrao, raised in the lap of luxury, and trained to be a great entertainer, the young girl would grow up to become one of the most beautiful and popular entertainers of her time. Yet despite all of her success, something was missing in the life of the girl now known as Umrao. Though fortune seemed to smile down on her against all odds, Umrao soon fell in love with the powerful Nawab Sultan and longed to start a family with the influential figure despite the fact that their love seemed doomed from the onset. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Shabana Azmi, Sunil Shetty, (more)
- Starring:
- Monalisa, Hyder Kazmi, (more)
Directed by Raj Kanwar, Andaaz follows the friendship between Raj (Akshay Kumar), a handicapped college student, and Kajal (Lara Dutta), a hot-tempered young woman who shares the same love of model airplanes that he does. With her help, Raj miraculously overcomes his disability. Though he finds himself deeply in love with Kajal, she marries another man while he is fighting in the Indian army. Several years later, the disillusioned Raj is going through intensive special training in South Africa, where he meets a beautiful but mysterious woman named Jiya (Priyanka Chopra). ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, (more)
A rare horror thriller from Bollywood, Vikram Bhatt's Raaz is the story of a married couple with some supernatural problems. Aditya (Dino Morea) and Sanjana (Bipasha Basu) are in a marriage that is going through a rough period. Sanjana feels as if she is being followed by a malicious presence and seeks assistance from her best friend and a local professor. The film's title translates to English as Secret. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Dino Morea, Bipasha Basu, (more)













