Lawyer to make movie for women in live-ins

Pune activist says the Marathi film is a step towards ensuring that women in such relationships enjoy legal rights given to all wives

With amendments giving more rights to women in live-in relationships, a city advocate Abhijit Sarvate has decided to make a film to reach out to the vast female population.

Sarvate, who has fought for several such women over the years, was inspired by their courage and came up with the concept of Mani Mangalsutra, a Marathi film.



Poetic justice
According to Sarvate, many women in live-in relationships are unaware that some sections of the law can help them get the legal status of a family member or even a wife. "These laws have given poetic justice to these women," he said. He added that since thousands of youngsters working in the IT and BPO sectors in Pune are in live-in relationships, it is important that they are aware of these laws.

Tribute to mom
Over the years, Sarvate has helped women claim maintenance money from their live-in partners or stopped owners of the flats couples had rented from evicting the woman after her partner passed away. However, Sarvate is not the first in his family to fight for the rights of women in live-ins. "My mother was also an advocate who fought for rights of women in live-ins. My film is a tribute to her," he explained.

Sarvate recalls that his mother had helped a woman who had been in a live-in relationship in the 70s. "That woman and the several whom he has fought for are the inspiration behind Mani Mangalsutra,," he said.

His wife Gauri Karekar-Sarwate, who debuts as a scriptwriter and director with this film, said, "We have not taken any cinematic liberties with the legal aspects. In fact, we have given detailed information on relevant sections of the law, which can be useful for those in similar situations." However, she is also quick to add, that while the film fights for women in live-in relationships, Mani Mangal-sutra does not promote live-in relationships.