'Maatr presents a harsh reality without any gloss'

Her latest Maatr is about a gang-rape incident and actor Raveena Tandon says the movie shows the plight of women in the country without any sugar-coating. The revenge thriller has been directed by Ashtar Sayed and written by Michael Pellico. Raveena says she and the makers of the movie were committed to stay true to the subject and wanted to steer clear from commercialising anything.

"I was waiting for a film like this where the director and me were on the same page. Things like these can't be commercialised. It is a film made with emotions, there are no club songs, no dances, no gloss. "In our country, there is a rape happening at some place everyday. This film shows the harsh reality. There is no sugar-coating," Raveena said during a visit here.

The actor says since films made on such subjects are often unrealistic, it is important to make movies that shock people so that they understand the ordeal of a victim. "Somewhere because of the sugar-coating that is going on, people making films which are palatable, we become indifferent to it. Until and unless it shocks you, disturbs you, how do you start feeling the horror of what the victims go through? We think this can't happen to us. It happens to others but it is only coming close to home." Raveena says the increase in the number of rape cases show that the law and order system of the country is failing to protect the women and girls.

"Statistically, it is on the rise and it doesn't seem to come down. So, obviously there is some system that is failing to protect the girls and women in the country. Something needs to be done."

Maatr, which released on Friday, shows a mother's fight for justice.