Thinking – in light of the latest Delhi gang-rape – about the many subtle ways in which misogyny is perpetuated and absorbed into a culture, I remembered a passage I recently read in an interview of the filmmaker Onir (this is from Anna MM Vetticad’s book Adventures of an Intrepid Film Critic, which I reviewed here). The back-story is that Onir’s sensitive film I Am had run into censorship problems simply for touching on such subjects as child abuse and homosexuality. Here he is on the double standards in what is seen as acceptable for a mass audience and what isn’t:
Recently I was watching this so-called, feel-good, keep-your-brains-at-home, fun big film, and I was thinking that I’m facing so much trouble with the Censor Board over I Am, yet in this film I was watching, the Board cleared a scene in which a young boy is crying and the mother says: “Maine toh beta maanga tha, beti mil gayee.” (“I asked for a son, but got a daughter instead.”) In a country like India, you pass that uncensored?I think it's safe to assume that both scenes Onir mentions above were played for laughs, and that they probably did draw unthinking chuckles from a large number of the people who watched them. But even if it was a “keep-your-brains-at-home” film, such dialogue has a way of creeping, meme-like, into the reptile brains of some of those viewers and informing - or confirming - their worldviews. Perhaps we should expect nothing less in a country where senior members of a Censor Board (apparently educated men and women among them) dole U-certificates to such scenes even as they excise a mere hint of consensual gay sex on the grounds that “Oh my God, the look between those two men will make viewers uncomfortable.”
Cut to the next dialogue, friend explaining the art of how to get the right person in your life: “Har ladki ek bus ki tarah hoti hai. Chadh jaao, utar jaao, chadh jaao, uttar jaao. Ek toh aisa bus hai jo ghar le jaayega, ussko miss mat karo.” (“Girls are like buses. Get on, get off, get on, get off. Just make sure you don’t miss that one bus that gets you home.”) I wanted to throw up. And this gets a U certificate?
I don't know what to say. The social media is flooded with the aftermath of the brutal episode. Everyone is crying hoarse about the incident. What is wrong with this country, I wonder. The Hindu says that education is the answer but how can education stop this. Why such incidents don't occur in the tribal communities where a woman is always semi-naked. Their code of ethics is different from that of a state society or the so called mainstream society.
ReplyDeleteSorry to have ranted.
Joy always,
Susan
Not at all, Susan. Ranting seems about as valid a solution as anything else these days - though maybe that's the nihilist in me speaking.
ReplyDeleteSo Apt! mere mention or depiction of sexuality in ways different from the expected societal norms and the so called censor board goes into fits.
ReplyDeleteAlso now i understand why monstrosities like Khiladi's and the Rathore's become hits as crass humour and barbaric action sequences become the new reality for some people.
Reality that somehow manifests in raping and assaulting a female so brutally that her intestines have to be removed.
Nihilism is not taboo! I believe it is the only path to a mythic monk like state.
ReplyDeletedo you believe in the conventional belief that the society, which is most miserable, produces best literature and art? and if yes, are we producing best books and films? films am sure we are not, but is it true of books? just a thought.
ReplyDeleteIts almost as if the society wants to bury its head in the sand by ignoring reality!
ReplyDeleteI think a rise in incidents like rape and molestations potrays the insecurities of some men who hence refuse to see women as their equal.
isnt Onir homosexual? ( please insert 'Seinfel' line here .
ReplyDeleteBTW, have you heard the joke about 2 kids discussing if Bus is masculine or faminine?
@Jai: I completely agree with Onir. Similar feelings welled up in me when I watched "3 Idiots" and sat through the whole "Balatkar" speech drawing peals of laughter from everyone in the audience.
ReplyDeleteNightwatchmen: well, to be honest, I found that scene very funny too, but the target of humour in that case was the Omi Vaidya character, not sexual violence. I do get your point to an extent, but I also think there are subtle differences of intent and execution between that scene and the scenes mentioned in this post.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, your comment makes me want to write something analysing my own responses to films/scenes that others have labelled misogynistic. Will try to do it sometime.
Talking about scenes meant for thoughtless chuckles, I wonder how many were outraged at the famous Balatkar pe Balatkar scene from 3 Idiots. I was. Very very outraged.
ReplyDeleteJai: I'll wait for that post. There are a lot of crass, so-called-harmless-fun dialogues & actions in Bollywood (& in Hollywood, but that's another post) films. However, I really didn't think the Balatkar speech qualifies as one. The target, the intent & the execution, all combine to effect us in different ways.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I'll get howls of protests from people who'll tell me after this that "Bullshit. You aren't a woman. so you have no right to comment". Ah well, so be it!
Another thought provoking post as usual! The hypocrisy is astounding...I've had the misfortune of watching "family movies" that show women as frivolous catty carpets or constantly in a state of woe-is-me and we watch them like these are the values we should transmit to the next generation
ReplyDeleteBut god forbid even the suggestion of a subject like homosexuality and the censors come out screaming. Though as a parent id be more worried that my kids are watching sexist mysognistic movies than ones dealing with tab boo topics in a mature and honest manner. Mind boggling mindsets
Yes the 'balatkar'/ rape joke in three idiots was atrocious. So heavily loaded with humour that only the sensitive noticed. And then kids started asking their parents 'what is balatkar?'
ReplyDelete