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The International Indian Film Awards (IIFA) this year had three awards that clearly highlighted how women-centric stories are becoming mainstream in Indian cinema. It's time to celebrate, even if cautiously!
The International Indian Film Awards (IIFA) this year had three awards that clearly highlighted how women-centric stories are becoming mainstream in Indian cinema. It’s time to celebrate, even if cautiously!
While the focus on women wasn’t as overt as the #MeToo campaign at the Golden Globe Awards, IIFA honoured strong women-centric movies by giving the Best Female Actor to Sridevi for Mom, Best Supporting Actor to Meher Vij for Secret Superstar and the Best Picture Award to Tumhari Sulu which had Vidya Balan as the lead.
Bollywood is surely past the days when women had just two major roles – a damsel in distress or a vamp. It is delightful to see movies such as Tumhari Sulu, where Vidhya Balan’s cheerful character experiments with various things and finally lands a job as a radio jockey on a late night show doing semi-adult content. Secret Superstar depicts an ardent young girl who fights against patriarchal systems and realises her dreams; and in Mom, Sridevi’s character fights a misogynist system to make justice possible for her step-daughter who was raped.
This definitely seems like a coming of age for Bollywood. 2017 saw movies such as Begum Jaan, Lipstick Under My Burka, The Mother, Simran, Noor, Anaarkali of Aarah, Naam Shabana, Phillauri, that parleyed with sexist structures. These movies have tried to change the discourse about women in cinema. They have challenged notions of female sexuality, empowerment, strength and capability. Some of these movies even faced strong opposition but that helped in bringing about more public discussion of taboo topics. The slowly increasing number of female filmmakers has also played an important role in bringing about this change.
Previously, movies like Pink, Piku, Dear Zindagi, Neerja, Kahani, Sarbjit, English Vinglish, Queen etc have also received a positive response form the Indian audiences, in the process challenging conventional beliefs.
While a few women-centric movies are made every year and do well commercially and critically, there are still a lot of movies that objectify women. These pro-women movies have to compete against the mainstream male dominated movies and their item numbers. Bollywood produces about 1500 movies every year although very few are commercially known and only a handful of them deal with women.
The industry needs to more women-centric movies that are well-received and become the norm rather than an exception,. In the past a lot of research has shown how movies influence sexual harassment and other violent behaviour. Above all, it shapes the way we as people think about women. Movies are also a reflection of society but the depiction and glorification of objectifying women will only reinforce the existing beliefs.
To change the dialogue around women we need more female filmmakers – directors and producers as well as female writers who write different stories and change the clichéd perceptions of women. We must stop expecting powerful female narratives from people who make misogynist movies. It seems like the perfect time for women to enter the film industry not just as aspiring actors but as story-tellers, producers, directors, sound engineers, foley artists, cinematographers, editors…and more!
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Stop glorifying biological parenthood - other methods of growing a family are just as valid, and completely a couple's choice, especially of the woman whose body goes through pregnancy and birth.
Stop glorifying biological parenthood – other methods of growing a family are just as valid, and completely a couple’s choice, especially of the woman whose body goes through pregnancy and birth.
Trigger Warning: Contains derogatory remarks about having a baby through surrogacy or any means other than giving birth through biological means, and may be triggering, especially to adoptive parents.
Recently Priyanka Chopra Jonas announced parenthood by surrogacy. This has once again sparked the debate about ethical surrogacy, which is a discussion for another day.
Arathi Rajagopalan, founder of 'House of Kalart', talks about thinking like a designer & transitioning to thinking like a business owner.
Excerpts from an interview with Arathi Rajagopalan, founder of ‘House of Kalart’ – a fusion jewellery label that merges global aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship.
When did you start ‘House of Kalart’ and what was the intention?
I started House of Kalart in 2017 as a venture where painting, drawing and embroidery are married with metalsmithing to create well-handcrafted fashion jewellery. Along with painting and styling, the venture aims to create a holistic fashion experience for a bold and dramatic woman!” As a child, I had always been fascinated by arts and crafts.
Sridevi rules hearts in her death even as she did during her versatile career. More on this incredible actor, who's never spoken ill of others in the industry.
Sridevi rules hearts in her death even as she did during her long and versatile career. Here’s more on this incredible actor, who’s also known for never speaking ill of others in the industry.
At first, I thought that the news was a hoax. Like most celebrity death news! But, when the news actually turned out to be true, it took me some time to register. It still feels so unreal. Death comes like a thief for some and for some like the prince who walks right into your door. It reminds you of how life is such a precious gift and how it’s all temporary!
I still remember my first Hindi film at the age of 5. It was Disco Dancer and I was a Mithun-Mandakini fan then. But, the next movie completely changed my preferences for life. It was Mr.India. I was mesmerised by Sridevi’s histrionics on-screen. Since then, I have never seen any other actress come close to Sridevi’s versatility and electrifying screen presence.
Here’s a list of Bollywood movies of 2017, that define the new age Indian cinema with their bold portrayal of the many sides of a woman.
2017 has been a year of movies that dare to venture into stories with empowered and empowering women and show female characters with a genuine voice, an unabashed character and a power to influence. The movies you will find in this list of Bollywood movies of 2017 made it here not because of their box office success or awards won but because they chose to deal with themes that need to be discussed and stories that need to be retold.
Not all heroes wear capes and not all heroes are men.