more-in Film-maker Aparna Sen, whose forthcoming directorial venture Sonata starring powerhouse performers Shabana Azmi and Lillete Dubey celebrates female bonding, says there are hardly any films on the topic. “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 laid back. Both are team persons. It becomes important,” Ms 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 for a mid-April release. Sonata is the psychological exploration of three unmarried women facing a mid-life crisis. Aparna also stars in the film. The 103-minute English drama revolves around three friends -- Aruna Chaturvedi, a professor essayed by Aparna, Dolon Sen, a banker portrayed by Shabana and Subhadra Parekh, a journalist played by Lillete. Does it have any feminist elements? “It’s very much there. It’s not underlined but it’s there...People have to know how to see it,” she said. The Mr. and Mrs. Iyer-maker revealed she had to coach Shabana (who plays a Bengali character) in pronouncing Bengali words. “I had to teach Shabana how to say Bangla words and Shabana had to brief me on how to say certain words,” Aparna added.

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