False Dowry Harassment Case

Only few years after his marriage, Syed Makhdoom came to know that he was the fourth husband of his wife, Muskaan Sehr.  One day, she took all the jewelry and other confidential documents and also filed a false Dowry harassment case against her husband; the Indian-turned-Canadian national, Syed Makhdoom. Furthermore, his visitation rights to his beloved son were also reserved. He felt isolated and on April 5, 2009, he committed suicide and put an end to all his sufferings, mental trauma and the deep agony he was going through.

He was betrayed and was trapped because of the so called draconian law of the Indian Constitution; section 498 A. 

Veteran actors Farida Jalal & Sushma Seth on the sets of "498 A-Wedding Gift"

“498 A- Wedding Gift” is a Hindi commercial feature film which presents a similar story, informing about the misuse of the Dowry Act of the Indian Constitution. Section 498 A of the Indian Penal Code, allows the Police to arrest anyone in the husband’s family and his relatives, without any investigation. The wife just needs to lodge a complaint in the nearby Police station.

Many people calls section 498 A to be more dangerous than POTA even. They want it to be eliminated or amended. The time has come, when the cry of the people must be addressed. And the amendments in the draconian Dowry law should certainly be considered.

Suhaib Ilyasi, who is the producer-director of the commercial feature film “498 A- Wedding Gift”, aims at informing the Indian masses, about the misuse of the Dowry Act. The film is about the agony and the sufferings, which an NRI family goes through. They come back to India to look for a beautiful bride for their only son. But shortly after the marriage, the family falls into a trap because of the biased Dowry law of the Indian Constitution ….and the story begins.   

Dowry Law: Biased or Fair?

The Dowry system prevalent in the society has always been said to be a curse. The meaning of growth, development, modernization and education gets dims when it stills lives freely in our traditions and cultures. But the situation worsens when the law meant to protect the bride leads to the brutal consequences for the husband and his relatives.

The section 498A, have enough of the evidences showing its significant misuse by the women for their own interest. The commercial feature film “498 A- Wedding Gift” produced and directed by Suhaib Ilyasi, is the infotainment showing the lacunas of the Dowry Law.

The Veteran actors like Alok Nath, Reema Lagoo, Sushma Seth and many more are up to their best performance in the movie “498 A- Wedding Gift”. Understanding the importance of this social cause, the maestro Ghulam Ali Khan sahib has given his voice for a patriotic song in the film. The widely known singers like Shaan, Sunidhi Chauhan, Sonu Nigam has sung the different songs in the movie. The film also introduces a new singer Veena Parashar. Ray & Brotherhood has placed in harmony the amazing lyrics of the songs with the music.

Suhaib Ilyasi, who is debuting as a Director with the film “498 A- Wedding Gift”, needs no introduction. People still remember the hero of ‘India’s Most Wanted”. This time Suhaib again puts a vital question in front of the bare face of the society that is section 498 A of the Indian Penal Code fair? He wants to inform the society through his film so that the utmost urgency to bring the amendments can be felt.

People call this law to be a draconian law and the commercial feature film “498 A- Wedding Gift” enables you to make your own stand.

Filming the Lacuna's of Dowry Law

In the Rig Vedic period, when the marriage ceremony was performed, the bride’s father used to gift cows etc. to the grooms family. In the later period, this tradition of gifts was given the name of Dowry which proved to be a curse for the society. The newly wedded brides were ill-treated in their husband’s house. Moreover, there are innumerable stories where the girl was brutally and mysteriously murdered. The aftermaths are proved by the heinous crimes like feticide.

The Hindi feature film “498A- The Wedding Gift” is an initiative to bring to the notice the lacunas of the section 498A of the Indian Penal Code. This law of the Indian Constitution is called the Dowry Law and is meant to protect the woman’s from the unlawful behavior of the husband and his relatives. But with the changing trends, the law meant to safeguard the women was made to be a loop for the men. Slowly and gradually, this law has become a serious threat for the Indian society.

The debut Director Suhaib Ilyasi has tried to raise this social cause in his film “498A- The Wedding Gift”. The maestro Ghulam Ali supports this subject by giving his voice to the patriotic lyrics of a song in the movie. The film consists of the widely known actors like Alok Nath, Farida Jalal, Reema Lagu and many more.  

Long before, it was said, "the cinema is the shadow of the society". The cinema “498A- The Wedding Gift” tells about the misuse of this significant law of the Indian Constitution. The film is being made under the banner of ‘Aaliya Productions Pvt. Ltd. and is truly the shadow of the society. The amendments are the cry of the hour and it should certainly be considered.    

The Misuse of Dowry Law-498A

The judiciary has proved to be an important pillar of the Indian Constitution since it came into being. But unfortunately, the sections of the Indian Penal Code like 498A, puts the people in doldrums and their democratic rights at peril. The woman’s are said to misuse and manipulate the law which was primarily meant for their protection-the Dowry Law.

"498A- The Wedding Gift" is a feature film bringing to notice the lacunas and the brutal consequences of this section of the Indian Penal Code. Starring the senior actors like Alok Nath and Reema Lagu, this film is a perfect infotainment for the people. The veteran singer like Ghulam Ali saab has given his voice for the heart rendering lyrics of the songs in the movie. The director Mr. Suhaib Ilyasi, is widely known to have brought in limelight many of the criminal stories through the convergent media perpetually.  

In this age of globalization, the society truly stands up to the expectations of the ‘Theory of Individualization’. The urbanization and the modern trend of the nuclear family leave the people with new grievances to be resolved on the grounds of the Indian Constitution. But unfortunately, it is quite often accused of not meeting the modern demands of the people. There are differences in usage and the acceptance of the law. Therefore, the time has come to take in consideration this serious threat to the world’s largest democracy.  

On just a mere complain of a woman, section 498A of the Indian Penal Code allows the Police to arrest anyone in the family of her husband. There are several instances for the fallacious arrests and aftermaths. Suhaib Ilyasi, the hero of the ‘India’s Most Wanted, is debuting as a director with this film. He once again brings for the discussion, one of the very common and serious problems of the society.