As filmmaker Shoojit Sircar calls out Bollywood’s duality, I second his views

Whether you agree with it or not, films do have an impact on society at large. We as a nation have grown up on the staple diet of films. Cinema and art always reflect the kind of times and mindset we are living in. So saying that films are just meant for entertainment is like totally negating their impact on the youth as well as the nation.

In recent times we have seen how Bollywood is divided over the way it should portray its women. We have a few handfuls of filmmakers who are actually trying to undo the years of problematic representation of both the male and female characters. However, a large section, to be precise the mainstream filmmakers still have a very long way to go.

Its 2019 and despite living in the post #MeToo era we still have films casting actresses just for the sake of being an eye-candy, making fun of LGBTQ community and don’t give a hoot about being sensible or sensitive.

The height of irony is when these filmmakers come out to offer their opinions in matters involving national interest. Recently the rape and murder of a doctor in Hyderabad shook the entire nation. Soon we had several Bollywood celebs coming out and sharing their views on how things are going haywire in the nation and they also demanded strict punishment for the culprits.

Now the problem is not in the celebs offering their solidarity. The problem is when a filmmaker like Sandeep Reddy Vanga offers his views on women safety when his own films reek of misogyny. Inserting unnecessary item songs, promoting films by leaking intimate scenes, making cheap sex-comedies in the name of art is nothing but an easy way to earn quick bucks.

Filmmaker Shoojit Sircar recently called out the duality of Bollywood when they were busy lecturing on morality on social media. Sircar asked his fraternity to check their filmi ethics before delivering lectures on morality to the rest of the world.

https://twitter.com/ShoojitSircar/status/1202186849889988608

In the recently released ‘Housefull 4‘ film, there are dialogues like ‘Gender ka tender’ or for that matter the marital rape joke in Kartik Aaryan starrer ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh‘ are some of the examples of how low we have stoop to evoke laughter. Passing off these films as ‘Public Demand’ is another problematic area that no one ever wishes to look into.

Every second Bollywood actress calls herself the supporter of female empowerment and equality. They also portray themselves as the champion of being “woke” and not adhering to the age-old-stereotypes. They say embrace your inner beauty, be yourself etc but then, they themselves make a beeline outside the plastic surgeon’s office. On top of that, they don’t even find anything wrong in promoting skin lightening creams and products. Is that how you set the right example? Fine, I understand its visual medium industry so you have to be at your best all the time. But then you should refrain from imparting gyaan on embracing real beauty and celebrating your real self…don’t you think so?

In the past, we all may have committed several mistakes but continuing to do it all over again shows us love for being stagnant. Until and unless we all start to follow the process of ‘learn, unlearn and relearn’ we will never we able to reach anywhere in our lives.

Its high time that the filmmakers walk the talk. And if they can’t do that, then they should simply keep a good distance from sharing their views on anything and everything under the sun.

Also Read: With 2019 coming to an end, here’s hoping Bollywood actresses’ token feminism ends as well

Pooja Sharma

Cinephile. Bibliophile. Pluviophile. Selenophile. Autophile. Aesthete. Blood group- Tea positive. Poetry lover. Sucker of rom-coms.

PS: Sharmaji ki Ladki sucks at writing bios.
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