'Hiding Divya' presents an honest portrayal of mental illness By CHRIS JORDAN • STAFF WRITER • August 20, 2010
[image: ~From left, Pooja Kumar and Madhur Jaffrey in a scene from "Hiding Divya,'' opening today in Edison.]<http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?template=zoom&Site=CN&Date=20100820&Category=ENTERTAINMENT02&ArtNo=100816061&Ref=AR> ~From left, Pooja Kumar and Madhur Jaffrey in a scene from "Hiding Divya,'' opening today in Edison. (~PHOTO: ANJALI BHARGAVA) The lack of openness in the state's South Asian community about mental illness strikes close to home for Rehana Mirza, the Bridgewater native who has written and directed a new movie about the topic called "Hiding Divya.'' "It began with a request from a friend whose family was dealing with it,'' Mirza said. "Families often refuse to acknowledge it.'' Another friend's father later shot himself. "He was hospitalized for many years, and there were many repercussions because the community wasn't acknowledging what was happening,'' Mirza said. "Hiding Divya'' focuses on three generations of Indian women living in Edison. Acclaimed Indian actress Madhur Jaffrey plays Divya Shah, the matriarch of the family who is suffering from bipolar disorder. Linny, played by Miss India USA Pooja Kumar, is the daughter who tries to hide her mother's illness, and Madelaine Massey is Linny's daughter, Jia. While there have been strides in lessoning the taboo nature of mental illness here in the states in the last 20 years or so, there are still pockets where the subject is not broached freely. "I think there are nuances in immigrant groups about how it's spoken about in public,'' Mirza said. "It has such a large stigma. It's considered bad blood or the children won't be able to be married.'' Early reviews, including the Asian Loop website, have called the film "unbelievably powerful.'' "The film is a tough subject,'' said Mirza, who now lives in Brooklyn. "It's not a typical romantic comedy, and it's not for the mass media, but we try to deal with it with some humor and some reality so people can relate to it.'' In 2006, Mirza and crew filmed on Oak Tree Road in Edison and in Bridgewater near where Mirza grew up on English Court, off Finderne Avenue. "I always remembered the basketball court there, and I fondly remember playing basketball,'' said Mirza, who also is a playwright. "There was a scene where the characters played basketball, and we went back there to film, and the nets were taken down, but thankfully a neighbor put up a net that we could use.'' Kumar, a native of St. Louis, enjoyed her time filming in Central Jersey. "Everyone was very supportive, and they wanted to help us in the production,'' said Kumar, whose credits include IFC's "Bollywood Hero'' with "Saturday Night Live's'' Chris Kattan in 2008. "Making an independent movie is very tough, and the local community really made a difference.'' "Hiding Divya'' is set to open in six theaters across the country, including Big Cinemas in Edison, this weekend. "This film can resonate with anyone,'' Mirza said. "Everyone can understand and identify with the story on some level.'' -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mental Health Advocacy (News 'N Views) India" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/MhaNewsViewsIndia?hl=en ------------- Affiliated Groups : MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCACY INDIA [email protected] Discussions on mental health law / policy / plan monitoring / human rights etc [email protected] India-specific news and views related to mental health [email protected] Information and support to carers of people with mental health issues [email protected] Mutual support and sharing of experiential knowledge, skills and social learning amongst peers
