Ammu Zachariah, TNN Feb 13, 2013, 12.00AM IST Forty years after the brutal rape of Aruna Shanbaug, her story will be retold on the big screen.
Director Anil V Thomas' Maram Peyyumpol is based on the unnerving story of Aruna, a nurse with a hospital in Mumbai, who was brutally raped by a sweeper. "I have been working on the script for the past five years. After much rewriting and editing, the final script is now ready. Though the story is based on the real-life incident, the script includes a couple of fictional characters," says Anil, adding, "It's also a love story. Aruna was in love with her colleague — a doctor. The fateful incident took place just a few months before their wedding."
Aruna was sexually assaulted by a sweeper on November 27, 1973. Her assaulter strangled her with a chain. The lack of oxygen then, later reduced her to a vegetable. While Aruna has been diagnosed as brain-dead, she has been on a life support system ever since.
The incident hit headlines once again recently, when the victim's friend, Pinki Virani, filed a petition at the Supreme Court. Pinki appealed for a discontinuation of Aruna's life support, arguing that 'it's in violation of her right to live in dignity'. Though the court rejected the plea, a set of broad guidelines legalising passive euthanasia was passed, which became a landmark decision in Indian legal system.
Buzz is that the makers have approached Second Show fame Gauthami Nair to play Aruna's role. The actress confirms, "Yes, I was approached for this role. The script is extremely gripping. However, we are yet to finalise on the project."