TIGERS: A Film With a Social Cause
Award-winning Bollywood star, Emraan Hashmi (Murder, The Dirty Picture, Ek Thi Daayan), makes his international debut at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival with the film TIGERS. Directed by Oscar-winning director Danis Tanovic, this true story promises to be a game changer in the way we perceive corporations involvement in the marketing and selling of baby formula.
A controversial film that is set in Pakistan, Emraan plays a noble and honest salesman who is trying to make ends meet. As he sets out to do his job, he discovers an unsettling truth that leads him on the mission in challenging the system. “I wanted to sink my teeth into something powerful,” Emraan told the press. “I was blown away by the script.”
When asked during the press conference if the issue still persists, producer Guneet Monga answered openly that “It’s still happening. It’s 2014, it’s today, and it’s still happening. We’ve unapologetically said what we had to. And we are proud of it.”
There were multiple barriers in being able to tell this very important story. The issue of selling baby formula by large corporations has been going on for forty-five years. The large number of deaths amongst children continues to climb. Tanovic’s TIGERS hopes to bring awareness (and hopefully a change) in preventing this tragedy in the future.
“It happens a lot in Africa,” female-lead and award-winning actress Geetanjali said. “I’m really glad to be part of this film.” In our one-on-one interview, she speaks about her role as a woman playing a mother in the film. “We get those maternal feelings. Every time you hold the child, you get those feelings.”
Geetanjali is no stranger to the film festival circuit. She has starred in the critically acclaimed film I.D. and Liar’s Dice (premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2014). She enjoys her time travelling and playing central characters. “Women have stories too. It’s not just about being strong women. We can have normal stories.”
I absolutely agree! This is a film that is a must watch. It has depth, a cause and a story that can change lives. And it is playing in TIFF this week.
Public Screenings:
Monday, September 8th at 9:45 p.m. at Scotiabank Theatre 1
Wednesday, September 10th at 9:30 p.m. at Scotianbank3
Saturday, September 13th at 12:45 p.m. at TIFF Bell Lightbox Cinema 1
