Bawandar - 2002

Sanwari (Nandita Das) is the wife of rickshaw-puller Sohan (Raghuvir Yadav) and a mother to two kids. Sanwari is approached by 'Saathin' worker Shobha Devi (Deepti Naval) to take up cudgels against the prevalent system of child marriage. She does so with dynamism and in the course, invites the fury of the villagers.

To restrain her, they rape her in front of her husband, after beating him up and holding him captive. With Shobha's help, a distressed Sanwari manages to register her case, which creates a sensation in the country.

Against all odds, she maintains her dignity and courage as a woman and from a rape victim becomes a rape activist.