The film stars: Martin Sheen, Mischa Barton, Kal Penn, Raajpal Yadav,
 
Tannishtha Chatterjee and Fagun Thakrar

Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain 

 is a dramatic and revealing film about the world's
 deadliest
 industrial disaster,
 which occurred in Bhopal in 1984. 

The film stars: Martin Sheen, Mischa Barton, Kal Penn, Raajpal Yadav, Tannishtha

Chatterjee and Fagun Thakrar

 

Screening this week in NYC

Buy your tickets here: 

Village East Cinema 189 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

 http://www.villageeastcinema.com/

 FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/APrayerForRain/info?tab=overview

Website:
bhopalmovie.com

The film has garnered impressive reviews:

"A Prayer for Bhopal" is both a beautiful cinematic journey into the heart of India and a telling tale about corruption and corporate greed in which the poorest of people are made to pay the highest price, in this case losing their lives in the name of turning a higher profit.

As the film shows, an entire city was decimated following the wrongdoings of an American corporation, Union Carbide, which per the filmmakers, paid only $300 per corpse for the estimated 10,000 people that died that night in Bhopal after an accident following mismanagement at their Indian plant.
 

This was a story that needed to be told and may even help the plight of those people seeking justice in court still today after the Indian government turned a blind eye.”

                                                          - Liza Forman, Financial Times, London

The leading man is Rajpal Yadav who plays protagonist Dilip, a poor man who believes his luck has finally turned around when he gets a job at Union Carbide. His acting is brilliant, and the joy he shows when he gets a promotion at the factory is palpable and heartbreaking at the same time. Kumar establishes the setup for the film by showing the day to day life of Dilip and his family, during which you witness the beauty of India along with the struggle of the lower class and the corruption of industry. The strongest part of the film is by far the climactic disaster finale where the factory fails and the poisonous gas erupts into the city. The dichotomy of the colourful, joyous wedding of Dilip’s sister and the oncoming gas cloud along with the terror it brings is incredibly powerful, and the soundtrack adds an overwhelming sense of doom to the scene.

The film is certainly successful in its endeavours, painting a horrific and disturbing picture of an event forgotten by many, and altogether unknown by most people born after that time. Kumar’s portrayal of the events is by no means exaggerated; the director was careful to maintain credibility in order to get the message across.

A PRAYER FOR RAIN is harrowing and gut-wrenching, and Kumar makes no attempt at softening the sheer horror of what these people went through. As a result, this film serves as a powerful historical record of this terrible disaster and a reminder of what can go wrong when you combine dangerous chemicals with corporate greed, shot in such a strong and beautiful way that renders this film a MUST-SEE.”

                                                                   - Nat Olive for SHATTERJAPAN

(Full article: http://www.shatterjapan.com/tokyo-international-film-festival-day-3-bhopal-a-prayer-for-rain/)

“Being medically and technically accurate without ever losing the pace of a moving and emotional drama, with powerful cinematography by Charlie Wuppermann and scores by Benjamin Wallfisch, ‘A Prayer For Rain’ will leave you haunted even after the movie ends. Not only it explores the disastrous event and the lives around with astonishing details, the human interactions also comes with deep and heartful emotions that will touch everyone's hearts. It may have big names with each great acts, but the one who really shines portraying his part with coherent intensity is Rajpal Yadav as DIlip Kumar. A great debut from Ravi Kumar, and it’s lucky we got to see the unreleased cut of the movie in this festival. Kumar also asked the audience to give their votes for the ending scenes that was still in debate with some distributors. And more interesting thing, Sting and Ravi Shankar’s daughter, Anushka Shankar have recorded the theme song which will appear in the final theatrical cut.”

                                                             - Daniel Irawan, Journalist, Indonesia

(Full article: http://danieldokter.wordpress.com/2013/10/26/tokyo-international-film-festival-the-report-2/)

"...This is a movie that will leave you in shock… To sum up, this film is extremely courageous.  It is a must watch film..."

The Source.com

http://thesource.com/2014/11/04/film-review-bhopal-a-prayer-for-rain-starring-martin-sheen-and-more/

“... Yadav as Dilip steals this film!...”

“... I give BHOPAL: A Pray for Rain four tubs of popcorn out of five… ”

“... a big congratulations to director/writer Kumar for enlightening a world…”

Jeri Jacquin (Star Patcher)

http://patch.com/california/imperialbeach/bhopal-prayer-rain

"... director Ravi Kumar does a wonderful job of building suspense..."

"... Penn stands out ... "

“... a big congratulations to director/writer Kumar for enlightening a world…”

http://rogersmovienation.com/2014/11/07/movie-review-bhopal-a-prayer-for-rain/
 

“... heated drama …”

“... convincing scenario…”

Marshall Fine

http://hollywoodandfine.com/round-up-theory-of-everything-and-a-few-others/

“... apocalyptic images are impressive… “

“... An impressive Kal Penn plays a crusading grass-roots journalist…”

NY daily news

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/bhopal-prayer-dying-movie-review-article-1.200167

“Bhopal can actually be compared to Titanic.”

“strong cast and exquisite direction”

” awesome aesthetic bit of cinema”
 

By Randall J. Unger November 05, 2014 02:54PM EST

 http://www.themovienetwork.com/review/review-martin-sheen-slimy-corporate-big-wig-bhopal-prayer-rain
 

“... evocative…”

“... builds suspensefully to its inevitable tragic outcome…”

Frank Lovece

http://www.filmjournal.com/

Kerry Kennedy @KerryKennedyRFK · Sep 18

Saw @bhopal starring #martinsheen tonight powerful film must see for all interested in business and #HumanRights

FRIBOURG INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Opening Gala Screening – March 30^th, 2014

1. “Magnificent”

               - Le Matin, Lausanne, Switzerland

2. " Takes you on an incredible journey... Fantastic…”

                                                             - Freiburger Nachrichten, Fribourg

3. "Goosebumps inducing..."

                                                              - La Liberté, Fribourg

4. “A perfect opening gala...”

                                                            - Fribourg Int'l Film Festival

ASIA HOUSE PAN ASIA FILM FESTIVAL, London

Closing Gala Screening - March 9^th, 2014

1. Just seen an amazing film. Prayer for Rain @kalpenn outstanding. Must see film!” @PanAsiaFilmFest

                        - Gurinder Chadha (Director, "Bend It Like Beckham") via Twitter
 

2. “Better than Slumdog Millionare and 12 Years a Slave… !”

                                                                   - Naomi Canton, Asia House

 http://asiahouse.org/asia-house-pan-asia-film-festival-review-prayer-rain/#.Ux2Zpw9zxKg.twitter)

3. "Keeps the audience gripped onto their seats. One could hear gasps in the audience."

                                                                    -- EasternKicks.com/Cine-Asie.fr

3. “Powerful tale of one of a great forgotten tragedy”

                                                               - Kaleem Aftab, The Independent
 

4. “Just finished watching @APrayerForRain and I've never cried more, what a brilliant film - must watch! @GurinderC loved it too!”

                                                            - Shrimoyee (@shrimoyeec) via Twitter
 

5.  “A Prayer For Rain is a compelling Indian drama that retells the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984. Starring Martin Sheen, Mischa Barton and Kal Penn, the film wowed audiences at the Pan Asia Film Festival.”

                                                                               - Aisha Farooq, Desi Blitz

: http://www.desiblitz.com/content/bhopal-drama-impresses-pan-asia-film-festival)

 

TOKYO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

October 2013

1. "A Prayer for Bhopal" is both a beautiful cinematic journey into the heart of India and a telling tale about corruption and corporate greed in which the poorest of people are made to pay the highest price, in this case losing their lives in the name of turning a higher profit.

As the film shows, an entire city was decimated following the wrongdoings of an American corporation, Union Carbide, which per the filmmakers, paid only $300 per corpse for the estimated 10,000 people that died that night in Bhopal after an accident following mismanagement at their Indian plant.
 

This was a story that needed to be told and may even help the plight of those people seeking justice in court still today after the Indian government turned a blind eye.”

                                                          - Liza Forman, Financial Times, London

2.... I was totally shaken. Almost in tears. How could that have happened and I never even knew about it!”

                                                             - Maggie Lee, The Variety, Hong Kong

3. “Though Bhopal is quite far from Japan, we can have a deep sympathy for the characters. It reminds us the Fukushima nuclear disaster. I hope it will be a story for generations all over the world. The director, Mr. Ravi Kumar is a pediatrician, and he casts adoring eyes to children (future generations) through the camera.
 

It is said that Martin Sheen accepted the offer for the film within 24 hours. He was absolutely right.”

                                               - Mika Tanaka (Freelance Journalist, Japan)

4. "Bhopal, A Prayer for Rain -  A big hit at Tokyo Film Festival"

                                                                   - Kumud Merani, SBS Radio, Australia
 

5.“I myself am a victim of the gas tragedy and recommend everyone to watch this powerful and true story.”

        - Manju Mittal (Bhopal survivor), Journalist, The Indian Down Under, Australia

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