Filmmaker Deepa Mehta, whose ‘Water’ is soon releasing in India, was one of the guests at the screening of Chitra Palekar's ‘Maati Maay’ at the recently concluded Toronto Film Festival.

In a message to Chitra Palekar, Deepa Mehta says: “This is a deeply moving film that manages to be lyrical and heart-breaking at the same time. Accomplished performances, especially by Nandita Das and a strong debut by Director Chitra Palekar makes it a cinematic 'must see’.”

Produced and directed by Chitra Palekar under the banner of Dnya Films, the film is releasing in Pune this week (October 6). Based on a short story ‘Baayen’ by Mahasweta Devi, ‘Maati Maay’ (in Marathi) is the saga of Chandi, a beautiful young woman from a lower caste, whose family has traditionally been in charge of a children's graveyard. When her father dies, there being no other male in the family, Chandi inherits the job and performs it with great pride as her sacred duty. But after she gives birth to her son Bhagirath, things start to change. Being a nursing mother, Chandi now begins to get deeply affected by children's deaths. The film is the heart-rending tale of a young mother who is trapped between her instincts and needs, and the compulsions of her ancestral duty as dictated by the social system.

Nandita Das plays Chandi and Atul Kulkarni is Narsu, her husband. Kshitij Gavande plays Bhagirath, their son. Cinematography by Debu Deodhar and music by Bhaskar Chandavarkar are other major credits. With ‘Maati Maay, written and produced by her, Chitra makes her directorial debut.