Private Project

Rishta

A film based on true event of a small family in the state of rural Haryana, India. Khem Singh is a man plagued by the confinement of his methodic, almost ritualistic life, doomed by addiction to alcohol and sex. He lives with his wife Sunita and teenage daughter Bubbly. He would constantly force sex on his wife every night essentially becoming marital rape. On the sacred night of Karwa-Chauth, Sunita tired of bearing her husband animalistic nature and lack of shame towards his daughter, she gathers the courage to refuse his sexual urge that night leading to a fatal turn. The fate of a family, which was already destined for tragedy, takes a dramatic turn towards the unimaginable after Sunita’s death.

  • Prakash Bharadwaj
    Director
  • Prakash Bharadwaj
    Writer
  • Vishakha Bharadwaj
    Producer
  • Shruti Bapna
    Key Cast
  • Aakruti Singh
    Key Cast
  • Prakash Bharadwaj
    Key Cast
  • Ashutosh Panda
    Cinematographer
  • S K Srivastava
    Sound Desingers
  • Sachin and Vishal
    Production Designer
  • Ajay Kaul
    Editor
  • Rohit Sharma
    Music Composer
  • Jeetu
    Chief Assistant Director
  • Lakhbir Lovy
    Associate Director
  • Project Type:
    Feature, Short
  • Runtime:
    41 minutes 26 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    48,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Hindi
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Prakash Bharadwaj

Prakash Bharadwaj is a multi talented actor from theatre, TV and film background in India. He has several credits of plays, TV series and films to his name. In 2017, Bharadwaj forayed into screenwriting and direction with his short film ‘Rishta’ and feature length ‘Colours of Life’. He has been working with filmstar Aamir Khan since 2006 in the film 'Rang De Basanti', and proudly claims to be the reason behind Amir’s impeccable Haryanvi accent in ‘Dangal’ blockbuster hit. Amir Khan appointed him as his personal dialogue couch on noticing Bharadwaj’s artistry. It’s more than a decade now, together they had worked on films like Talaash, Dhobi Ghat, Ghajni, and the forthcoming Thugs of Hindostan.

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Director Statement

Crime against women is one such issue that reflects the fallacy in our pride. The increasing number of cases in physical assault and rape towards women proves shocking statistics. In fact, as the National Crime Records Bureau reported in 2013, one-third of crimes against women occur in domestic environment, and 98% of these cases are perpetrators known to the victims.

Rishta tells the tales of a family living a dark life that eventually leads to a tragic ending. It is a story based on true events. A man taking full advantage of the privilege that our society allows a man to control his wife however he wants, irrespective of the woman’s say. A privilege that protect crimes against women behind closed doors in the name of marriage. Rishta is based on such fact, a forced rituals deprived of mutual love and respect.