By Joyeeta Dutta Ray
WINGS (Women’s Initiatives to Nurture, Grow & Support) is a Mississauga-based social organization founded to connect enterprising women from all walks of life to share insights, experiences and resources to strengthen not just their own lives but also the lives of women in difficult life situations.
WINGS now attempts to merge borders and introduce its community members and their women friends to a new territory – Cinema. The initiative commences with the internationally acclaimed and highly awarded Indian filmmaker and veteran actress Aparna Sen’s path-breaking directorial English film Sonata that spins you into the medley of three unmarried women friends facing mid-life crises. Adapted from the play Sonata by Mahesh Elkunchwar, the story is centred around Aruna Chaturvedi (professor), Dolon Sen (banker) and Subhadra Parekh (journalist) played by Aparna Sen herself, Shabana Azmi and Lillete Dubey respectively.
Sonata is strung with happiness and compromises that stem from the decision to not settle down with men. Yet the three do not seem unsettled. They acknowledge that there is no point in asking ‘what-if’ questions because life has passed them by and they are content.
The film discusses how demons of the past can continue to haunt us in the present and future; how love and friendship can help us deal with whatever life churns up.
WINGS was started with the core intention to Support, Nurture and Grow women’s initiatives in all areas.
With this screening, the organization brings ventures where women are increasingly at the helm on an international platform.
As Aparna Sen said to a noted newspaper “I made decision to use my strength in areas like writing, directing, producing so the power, position is in my hand. We have to be prepared for challenges”. WINGS will present the 3 times National Film and 9 times International Film Awarded Veteran Filmmaker’s latest creation to the Canadian audience at the of Humber College, Etobicoke on November 5th, 2017.