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In the film, Deepika's Rubai is not just a sex siren, the "bait" for snaring Pathaan. She's also a trained agent, a spy, an action hero, and, "Sarva Guna Sampanna".
Happened to watch the latest sensation ‘Pathaan’ yesterday and was certainly disappointed with the treatment meted out to the lead actress. For most part of the movie, Rubai, the character is a bait, an enchantress, being used liberally to entice the hero or some other man.
But then, that’s for most of the movie. Through the rest of it, look closely, she’s many things more. A sex siren notwithstanding, she’s an agent, a spy, an action hero, and, SarvaGuna Sampanna – the perfect Indian woman.
I’ll tell you how.
*Spoilers Alert!
I mean the physical aspect, and there’s no hiding here. There is the song, the bikini, her well-chiseled body, and the makers have capitalized on her assets well. Now now, what good is a woman if she doesn’t have a beautiful face, the perfect figure, and a bikini body? She has to be seducing Pathaan, a random Russian uncle, and God knows whom else. How otherwise would a woman gather vital information? And come on, aren’t women supposed to be desirable to men? So, Rubai is sexy.
The movie is also about women empowerment, so our lady Rubai is well educated. She’s a doctor, no less. But of course, for the love of her country, the doctor gives up her practice, joins her country’s intelligence unit, and turns into a hot stunt woman. But Rubai is intelligent, who wants a dumb woman anyway?
Rubai sustains a bullet injury and wakes up 18 hours later, in perfect make-up, what with the dress, lipstick, and eyeliner intact. She performs heavy stunts, beats cops to pulp, rides choppers, and loots vaults, but her suits, her hair, and makeup are ever so perfect. The hero, our Pathaan might be an unshaven mess with his hair tied in a messy bun, but Rubai always looks dapper. She’s a woman after all, how can she look unkempt? Women are supposed to dress well, and look good, always.
Oh yes, a modern-day woman can’t just get away with good looks and stylish clothes. Not only should she possess a feminine bod, but also a man’s strength. What good is a woman who can’t take care of herself (read a martial arts expert) and the rest of her team? All that time when Rubai trained with Pathaan to steal the ‘Raktbeej‘, wonder what the villain and his otherwise all-men gang were doing. Well, she’s a woman, she’ll do the needful, by hook or by crook, wouldn’t she? And Rubai is a ‘soldier’ too, remember.
She’s a woman, a Bollywood heroine. If she doesn’t feel for fellow human beings and doesn’t always do what’s right for humanity, wouldn’t she be a vamp? And what worse curse could befall on a woman, I mean who likes a vamp? Though the villain is an ex-soldier, it’s understandable that he turned rogue because his family was massacred. It’s cool for a hero to play the antagonist, but a leading lady turning hostile, Oh No!
Rubai can be nasty with her kicks and punches, she could break your heart at the drop of a hat, but she’s very kind at heart. And emotional. As a child, she witnessed her father being executed, so she studies medicine and became a spy (Their words, not mine). She could plot against India, steal the poison ‘Raktbeej‘ and help terrorist organizations, but no, she wouldn’t harm innocent citizens. Her heart beats for mankind and Pathaan. So, she pledges not to cheat anymore, how sweet is that? A woman is after all, ‘Pyaar Aur Mamta Ki Moorat‘ (embodiment of love and affection).
So, for all those who got carried away watching Besharam Rang, expecting the leading lady to be just a sex object, think again. She’s Bollywood’s very own ideal, beautiful, gentle, strong, qualified, soldier, Aadarshwadi (good principles) Nari, in a Bikini, not a Sari.
The perfect Indian woman. SarvaGuna Sampanna.
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
The premise of Laapataa Ladies is beautifully simple – two brides clad in the ghunghat that covers their identity get mixed up on a train. Within this Russian Doll, you get a comedy of errors, a story of getting lost, a commentary on patriarchy’s attitude towards women, a mystery, and a tale of finding oneself, all in one. Done with a mostly light touch that has you laughing and nodding along.
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