This Article is From Jun 19, 2013

Freida Pinto in India to promote documentary on women empowerment

Freida Pinto in India to promote documentary on women empowerment

Freida Pinto was in New Delhi recently for the screening of the documentary Girl Rising.

Highlights

  • Hollywood actress of Indian origin, Freida Pinto, who has lent her voice for one of the stories in the documentary feature film Girl Rising, said the privileges she experienced while growing up motivated her to be a part of this project.
  • Directed by Academy Award-nominated director Richard E Robbins, the documentary tells the stories of nine girls from different parts of the world who have been a victim of child slavery and sexual abuse.
  • Despite these obstacles, the girls broke barriers and changed their lives by educating themselves.
  • Besides Freida, Hollywood A-listers such as Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchette, Selena Gomez and Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra have also lent their voice to the film.
  • "I am happy to bring this film to India. The timing couldn't be more perfect because there has been wide awareness in the last couple of months, maybe years. There are people who are raising more questions, who are protesting, debating also probably putting more pressure on policy change," said Freida, who was in Delhi recently for the screening of the film.
  • "I keep getting asked this question - Why education? Why did I choose to support education and the answer to that is quite simple because I had one. I am standing here today because I had the education I wanted and I cannot thank my mom and dad enough for that," she added.
  • The movie features original music by Academy Award winner Rachel Portman in collaboration with composer Hans Zimmer.
  • Freida says what appealed to her the most about the movie is that none of the girls are projected as victims but survivors.
  • "What I most like about this film is that none of the girls feel like or appeal to you like victims, they are all survivors. We need to understand that investing in girl education delivers highest return in investment even in the developing worlds," she added.
  • Robbins made the film in partnership with 10*10 and Intel.
  • "The reason we made this film was because of a question I was asking myself when my own daughter was born - that what kind of world will we leave for our children? And at a certain point, it is no longer enough to ask yourself what it is you believe about this world but what would you do," he said.
  • The film spotlights girls like Sokha, an orphan who rises from the dumps of Cambodia to become a star student and an accomplished dancer; Suma, who composes music to help her endure forced servitude in Nepal and today crusades to free others; and Ruksana, an Indian pavement dweller whose father sacrifices his own basic needs for his daughter's dreams.
New Delhi: Hollywood actress of Indian origin, Freida Pinto, whohas lent her voice for one of the stories in the documentaryfeature film Girl Rising, said the privileges sheexperienced while growing up motivated her to be a part of thisproject.

Directed by Academy Award-nominated director Richard ERobbins, the documentary tells the stories of nine girls fromdifferent parts of the world who have been a victim of child slavery and sexual abuse.

Despite these obstacles, the girls broke barriers andchanged their lives by educating themselves.

Besides Freida, Hollywood A-listers such as Meryl Streep,Anne Hathaway, Liam Neeson, Cate Blanchette, Selena Gomez andBollywood actress Priyanka Chopra have also lent their voice to thefilm.

"I am happy to bring this film to India. The timingcouldn't be more perfect because there has been wide awarenessin the last couple of months, maybe years. There are peoplewho are raising more questions, who are protesting, debatingalso probably putting more pressure on policy change," saidFreida, who was in Delhi recently for the screening of the film.

"I keep getting asked this question - Why education? Whydid I choose to support education and the answer to that isquite simple because I had one. I am standing here todaybecause I had the education I wanted and I cannot thank my momand dad enough for that," she added.

The movie features original music by Academy Awardwinner Rachel Portman in collaboration with composer Hans Zimmer.

Freida says what appealed to her the most about the movieis that none of the girls are projected as victims butsurvivors.

"What I most like about this film is that none of thegirls feel like or appeal to you like victims, they are allsurvivors. We need to understand that investing in girleducation delivers highest return in investment even in thedeveloping worlds," she added.

Robbins made the film in partnership with 10*10 andIntel.

"The reason we made this film was because of a question Iwas asking myself when my own daughter was born - that whatkind of world will we leave for our children? And at a certainpoint, it is no longer enough to ask yourself what it is youbelieve about this world but what would you do," he said.

The film spotlights girls like Sokha, an orphan who risesfrom the dumps of Cambodia to become a star student and anaccomplished dancer; Suma, who composes music to help herendure forced servitude in Nepal and today crusades to freeothers; and Ruksana, an Indian pavement dweller whose fathersacrifices his own basic needs for his daughter's dreams.
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