Viacom18 will air the documentary Daughters of Mother India on Dec. 27 which explores the aftermath of the fatal 2012 Delhi gang-rape which sparked massive protests demanding more safety for women.
A joint venture between Viacom Inc and leading Indian broadcaster Network18, Viacom18’s bouquet of channels include Hindi entertainment outlet Colors, news channel CNN-IBN, MTV India and Vh1 India, among others.
Daughters of Mother India is produced by Maryann DeLeo who won an Oscar in 2004 for her short documentary Chernobyl Heart, and is directed by former television journalist Vibha Bakshi. The 45-minute film looks at the resulting reforms in the police and judicial systems following the 2012 incident which led to intense national debate and introspection. Daughters of Mother India has also been adopted as a training film by the Indian Police Academy and screened at various educational institutes to increase awareness about women’s safety.
In contrast, BBC’s documentary India’s Daughter by Leslee Udwin, which also revolves around the incident, was banned in the country for its controversial interview with one of the four jailed rapists facing death row who said women are more responsible for rape than men.
In December 2012, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student was raped and ferociously attacked on a bus while returning home with a male friend after seeing the film Life of Pi at a south Delhi cinema. The victim later died from her horrific injuries in the hospital.
“Media firms are best placed to act as force multipliers in India’s endeavour to bring about women empowerment,” said Viacom18 Networks Group CEO Sudhanshu Vats. “It is also important for us to be objective and ensure that all sides of a story are shared. Daughters of Mother India does this in many ways: it is objective, compelling and thought provoking.”
Daughters of Mother India won an award at India’s National Film Awards in March. Its telecast will mark the death anniversary of the Delhi gang-rape victim who succumbed to her injuries on Dec. 29 after the horrific incident took place on Dec. 16.
