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"Realism" has been the latest news breaking aspect in modern cinema as the traditional formulas of contemporary cinema have been fading out. Even the small screen has been flooded with reality shows like "Shabaash India". "Wounded" is an autobiographical journey of an innocent girl-turned-dacoit, based on the life of famous dacoit Seema Parihar. It may sound strange that protagonist Seema Parihar has played herself in this hard hitting social melodrama. The gory tale of illiteracy, woman-exploitation, kidnapping, abduction and robbing innocents has been woven into fine craftsmanship of celluloid in 'Wounded'. Talented director Krishna Mishra has boldly landed in the dusty and muddy dungeons of "Bihad", "Bawine" and "Chambal" (districts in U.P and Madhya Pradesh) to plagiarize the real life incidents that took place in Seema Parihar's life. 'Wounded' depicts the suffering and miseries of poor and honest and connects them well with merciless dominance of rich and famous.

It glorifies the nefarious tentacles of wealthy rural landlords on the law makers and law breakers of society. The socially relevant gory tale gives an outlook of a "reality show" rather than delivering it as a bundle of entertainment package. It is news reeling on the sorry tale of tribal and rural women who are victimized by the mighty "jungle law". 'Wounded' has already received "Critics Award" at Leicester Expo Film Festival 2005, U.K, and is keenly awaiting the verdict in India.

'Wounded' is a life sketch of Seema Parihar, a dreaded dacoit who reigned to supremacy after the surrender of Phoolan Devi. Seema Parihar, the protagonist and the actress of the film, has spread terror in and around the jungle of "Bihad" for almost 18 years. The journey of Seema Parihar starts from adolescent days to the days when her terror ruled and finally to her surrender before the police in the year 2000.

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Director Krishna Mishra was highly impressed by Seema's tryst with destiny. He approached Seema Parihar with his crew in the jail with the idea of making a film on her life. Seema, the imprisoned deadly dacoit, was charge- sheeted in 36 cases. So, it was impossible for her to come out of the jail. Krishna Mishap's strong will and determination inspired Seema Parihar to play herself in the film. Mishra approached the Allah bad High Court for seeking permission to shoot the film with her. The appeal was granted by the court and finally Seema was allowed to work under strict police observation. It may sound historic that "real life" accused dacoit is playing herself on the celluloid as all such dacoit films were made with professional actors and stars in the past . Shepherd Kapok's critically acclaimed 'Bandit Queen' has Seema Bissau playing the role of Phoolan Devi whereas Vine Sheila's 'Godmother' showed Cabaña Zamia playing the protagonist.

To give it a realistic look the film has been exclusively shot on real locations like Seema Parihar's ancestral village and the areas terrorized by her. Also, the film has the participation of several people who were associated with Seema during her days as a dacoit. They have also participated in the exclusive shoot, thus giving the film a "matter-of-fact" look. Like 'Omar', the film has been conceived with excessive foul language showing the real physical and mental state of dacoits and outlaws.

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'Wounded' starts off with Seema Parihar narrating her real life incidents in a simplistic manner. It kicks off from her childhood days in the rural backdrop of "Bawine" village (district in U.P). Seema Parihar, born and brought up in downtrodden Taker family, used to breed cattle in her childhood. At the innocent age of 13, she was kidnapped (in 1983) by the rich and wealthy Shengar Thakur family from her ancestral village of Bawine (district Itawa, UP). The innocent girl was victimized by lustful passion of Thakur's son. Seema's father declined the marriage offer of the mighty Thakurs. Finally, the mighty and wealthy Shengar Thakurs abduct Seema with the help of dreadfully famous dacoits -- Lalaram and Kusuma Nian. She was brutally tortured and underwent a lot of mental, physical and social trauma. Even the law makers accused Seema's family and tortured them. Seema lost her patience and belief in law to turn dacoit in the Lalaram gang. Seema, an outlaw by all yardsticks, takes her gang to new heights by robbing rich and wealthy. Seema marries a dreaded dacoit from her gang but soon his philandering acts disappoint her. Disappointed and dejected she maroons him. On the other side, Lalaram's beloved Kusuma turns hostile towards him , leading to an internal gang war. Lalaram is brutally injured but Seema saves him by admitting him to the nearest hospital. Life smoothens for them and after thirteen long years she returns to her native village. The love chemistry between Seema and Lalaram develops and she gives birth to their baby boy. Seema is besotted by the charm of motherhood and decides to give up all her criminal acts. Lalaram's evil acts continue and this infuriates Seema. Lalaram is killed in police encounter and finally Seema surrenders before the Police.

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There is the dark side of the story when her brutality surpassed all others. Seema had a complex, rude and foul-mouthed nature during her tenure as a bandit leader. She would ask her men to pick up police informers and drag them to her feet. She would even torture them mercilessly to silence them. 'Wounded' has many other brutal events which will sound painful and mentally disturbing. After all it's an autobiographical life sketch of bandit queen who had an indomitable regime of almost two decades. Besides Seema, the film has the acting potential of actors like Kanhaiya Kithwas, Pradeep Kabra and half a dozen actors from the theatre world. 'Wounded' has an outlook of dramatized news reeling, so it's preposterous to expect anything momentous from the actor's clan. Despite this all actors deserve appreciation for living up to the demands of the characters they play. This presentation from Shree Hari Om Films has been produced by the combined efforts of Shalini and Chanda. Saloni Goel and Aziz Burney have blend of strong hard hitting and expletive words that epitomize the tyranny of the destitute. It has U.P rural lingo and connects it with every event and character in an appropriate way. Ashok Das Gupta and Harish Patel's camera shoots the ravines of dusty locations where the dacoits ruled. Krishna Mishra's scripting and direction are the mind and soul of the film. Mishra deserves accolades for incorporating amateurs as the lead actors in this socially relevant brutal saga. In today's cinematic professionalism it may sound absurd but there are few who boldly enter into new genre.

'Wounded' will surely be well received at many international film festivals as it has won bright colors at Leicester Expo Film Festival 200 in the U.K. It's an eye-opener to the all the brutalities in tribal heartlands of our country. Besides, it glorifies the harassment and injustice both at the hands of the law-breaker and the law-makers in a realistic way.

In nutshell, 'Wounded' is an honest attempt to portray and reform rural and tribal brutalities through the handiwork of dramatized reality woven in the framework of cinema.