If you want to understand how to become better allies to people with disabilities, then join us at Embracing All Abilities: Including People with Disabilities at Work.
If a film led by women, co-written by a woman, and co-produced by women is the way it is, I know better than to expect better cinema from male writers and producers.
A Bollywood connoisseur. A devout feminist. Yup, that’s me, your friendly neighbourhood cinephile, who wouldn’t take a second in correcting you that it was Rahul from Dil To Pagal Hai who said, “Rahul, naam toh suna hoga” and not Rahul from K3G. But it is also the same girl who would get “Kabir Singh is a douchebag” tattooed on her arm.
So who am I really? Someone who has bargained with cinema and learnt to enjoy it in isolation, or someone who will have a haemorrhage if there is a third Pyaar Ka Punchnama?
The lines between cinema and mainstream are almost non existent. While I am privileged enough to be able to absorb only the good and to keep the bad from amalgamating with my thoughts, it is not that I do not recognise that the majority of the Indian viewership is unable to do so.
You see, I cannot stop myself from vibing to Sunidhi Chauhan in Sheila Ki Jawani, nor can I stop myself from appreciating Katrina’s to-die-for moves, but I also cannot help but diss the number for being so objectifying.
It’s as though there is a constant war going on between the two shades of my conscience whenever I’m watching Hindi films. Should I like Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani because it’s such a well made film, or should I not like it because Bunny feels that Naina (a modestly dressed introvert) is an ishq type ki ladki, and Lara (the girl wearing skimpy clothes throughout the film) is a flirting type ki ladki?
My disappointment knew no bounds when in the name of a “feminist, women centric, women led” film, all we got was a Veere Di Wedding, successfully misrepresenting the entire movement, giving a chance to the already confused masses of reducing feminism to drinking, smoking, and sex. If a film led by women, co-written by a woman, and co-produced by women is the way it is, I know better than to expect better cinema from male writers and producers.
It annoys me to the core, not being able to enjoy my favourite classic Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (which is also most people’s favourite btw) without noticing everything that is problematic with the film. Rahul, please do better!
These are just a few of the many super problematic and patriarchal films there are in Bollywood. Each film is inappropriate in its own way, but my relationship with each is the exact same, that of love-hate. C’mon Bollywood, it’s not so difficult to not be offensive.
Here’s to Hindi films not being guilty pleasures someday, here’s to accepting our love for them proudly someday!
Image source: a still from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
What I loved was how there is so much in the movie of the SRK we have known, and also a totally new star. The gestures, the smile, the wit and the charisma are all too familiar, but you also witness a rawness, an edginess.
When a movie that got the entire nation in a twist – for the right and wrong reasons – hits the theatres, there is bound to be noise. From ‘I am going to watch it – first day first show’ to ‘Boycott the movie and make it a flop’, social media has been a furore of posts.
Let me get one thing straight here – I did not watch Pathaan to make a statement or to simply rebel as people would put it. I went to watch it for the sheer pleasure of witnessing my favourite superstar in all his glory being what he is best at being – his magnificent self. Because when it comes to screen presence, he burns it, melts it and then resurrects it as well like no other. Because when it comes to style and passion, he owns it like a boss. Because SRK is, in a way, my last connecting point to the girl that I once was. Though I have evolved into so many more things over the years, I don’t think I am ready to let go of that girl fully yet.
There is no elephant in the room really here because it’s a fact that Bollywood has a lot of cleaning up to do. Calling out on all the problematic aspects of the industry is important and in doing that, maintaining objectivity is also equally imperative. I went for Pathaan for entertainment and got more than I had hoped for. It is a clever, slick, witty, brilliantly packaged action movie that delivers what it promises to. Logic definitely goes flying out of the window at times and some scenes will make you go ‘kuch bhi’ , but the screenplay clearly reminds you that you knew all along what you were in for. The action sequences are lavish and someone like me who is not exactly a fan of this genre was also mind blown.
Recent footage of her coming out of an airport had comments preaching karma and its cruel ways, that Samantha "deserved her illness" because she filed for divorce.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu fell from being the public’s sweetheart to a villain overnight because she filed for divorce. The actress was struck with myositis post divorce, much to the joy of certain groups (read sexist) in our society.
A troll responded to Samantha’s tweet, “Women Rising!!” by adding to it “just to fall”. She replied, “Getting back up makes it all the more sweeter, my friend.”
Here’s another insensitive tweet by BuzZ Basket showing fake concern for her autoimmune disease. “Feeling sad for Samantha, she lost all her charm and glow. When everyone thought she came out of divorce strongly and her professional life was seeing heights, myositis hit her badly, making her weak again.” Samantha responded, “I pray you never have to go through months of treatment and medication like I did. And here’s some love from me to add to your glow.”
Please enter your email address