AZA

This movie is based on the human rights issue of 'Triple-Talaq'. The practice of 'Triple-Talaq' (Divorce in Islam) violates the contract of marriage and places power in the hands of men, reinforcing a hierarchy within marriage. It allows any Muslim man to legally divorce his wife by stating the word talaq (the Arabic word for "divorce") three times in oral, written, or more recently, electronic form. The practice faced opposition from Muslim women in India, some of whom filed public interest litigation in the Supreme Court against the practice.
AZA is a story of a woman and her 8 year old son, living a disjointed life as they wait for the return of the boy's absentee father and how the man's subsequent arrival pushes the mother and son's life ahead, but on a different track. Aza is a divorced Muslim lady who is living with her mother and earns her living through menial work. Aza's 8-year-old son Ali lives with her and is kept under the false hope that his father would return. Aza in these 8 years has not moved forward and still hopeful about the promise made.

  • Sonam Pathan
    Director
  • Swapnil Kumar
    Producer
  • Maya Ratansingh Thakur
    Producer
  • Sonam Pathan
    Writer
  • Sugandh Pandey
    Key Cast
    "Aza"
  • Shubh Sabharwal
    Key Cast
    "Rashid"
  • Renu Gupta
    Supporting Cast
  • Aarit Gupta
    Supporting Cast
  • Swapnil Kumar
    Supporting Cast
  • Sonam Pathan
    Shot Design
  • Shubh Sandhu
    Cinematography
  • Abhik Kumar Sarkar
    Background Score
  • Aniket Ahuja
    Stills
  • Sonam Pathan
    Sound Design & Editing
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    27 minutes 41 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    September 1, 2019
  • Country of Origin:
    India
  • Country of Filming:
    India
  • Language:
    Hindi, Urdu
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Vindhya International Film Festival of Madhya Pradesh 2019
    Madhya Pradesh
    India
    December 23, 2019
    Best Story
  • 10th Pune Short Film Festival 2020
    Pune
  • MMIFF Mentor & Mascot International Film Festival 2019
    Delhi / NCR
    India
    December 15, 2019
    Best Film
  • 8th Ankur Film Festival 2019
    Nashik
    India
    December 8, 2019
    Official Screening
  • The Lift-Off Sessions 2019
    Pinewood Studios, London
    United Kingdom
    December 8, 2019
    Official Selection
  • John Abraham International Short Film Festival (JAISFF) 2019
    Kozhikode, Kerala
    India
    December 13, 2019
    Semi-finalist
  • Lift-Off Global Network - First-Time Filmmaker Sessions 2019
    Pinewood Studios, London
    United Kingdom
    December 15, 2019
    Official Selection
  • 8th Kolhapur International Film Festival 2020
    Kolhapur
    India
    March 12, 2020
    Best Film
  • 4th Jaipur Film World 2020
    Jaipur
    India
    Semi - Finalist
  • The BeBop Channel Content Festival 2020
    Harlem, New York
    United States
    June 4, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Filmeraa International Film and Web Series Festival 2020
    Mumbai
    India
    February 22, 2020
    Best Short Film (Silver)
  • Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Film Festival 2020
    Surat
    India
    October 31, 2020
    Official Selection
  • Istanbul Film Awards
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    February 28, 2020
    Best Indie Short Film
  • Istanbul Film Awards
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    February 28, 2020
    Best Actress Short
  • Istanbul Film Award
    Istanbul
    Turkey
    February 28, 2020
    Best Women Director Short Film
  • Filmeraa International Film and Web Series Festival 2020
    New Dephi
    India
    February 22, 2020
    Popular Choice Award (Short Film)
  • Filmeraa International Film and Web Series Festival 2020
    New Delhi
    India
    February 22, 2020
    Best Actor (Female)
  • Jharkhand International Film Festival & Awards - 2020
    Ranchi, Jharkhand
    India
    Official Selection
  • Shorted India
Distribution Information
  • SHORTED INDIA
    Distributor
    Country: India
    Rights: Internet, Video on Demand
  • FILMERAA
    Distributor
    Country: India
    Rights: Internet, Video on Demand
Director Biography - Sonam Pathan

Sonam Pathan is from Amravati, Maharashtra, based in Delhi. She is an Architect, Filmmaker, and Screenwriter. She studied architecture from the University of Pune. After completing her graduation in architecture she did a short filmmaking course from FTI, Itanagar - an extended campus of Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute, Kolkata (SRFTI). Currently working as an independent filmmaker.

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