Hardly any films on female bonding: Aparna Sen

Eminent filmmaker Aparna Sen, who is all set for her directorial venture Sonata, which celebrates female bonding, says there are hardly any films made on this issue.

The movie stars powerhouse performers Shabana Azmi and Lillete Dubey.

"Basically, it is about female bonding. We see many films on male bonding, but hardly on female bonding. It really is a celebration of friendship. She (Lillete) is totally laidback. Both are team persons. It becomes important," Sen said at the trailer launch of the independent movie.

Sonata is adapted from the eponymous play by playwright Mahesh Elkunchwar. The film is slated on mid-April.

Sonata, also starring Sen, throws lights on the psychological examination of three unmarried women facing a mid-life crisis.

The 103-minute English drama revolves around three friends where Aruna Chaturvedi plays the role of a professor essayed by Aparna, Dolon Sen is seen as a banker, which is portrayed by Shabana, and Subhadra Parekh, a journalist played by Lillete.

Although not the prime focus, the film echoes feminism too.

"It's very much there. It's not underlined but it's there... People have to know how to see it," Aparna said.

The Mr. and Mrs. Iyer director revealed she had to train Shabana (who plays a Bengali character) in pronouncing Bengali words correctly.

"I had to teach Shabana how to pronounce Bangla words and Shabana had to brief me on how to say certain words," Aparna added.