DO INDIAN FILMS ENCOURAGE IMPROPER BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS WOMEN

 

    The recent movie 'Animal' has invited lot of debate, criticism and condemnation for glorifying violence, misogyny, patriarchy and male chauvinism. There has been call for its  ban and boycott. Similar debate surrounded the movie Kabir Singh- "Do Indian films encourage stalking, molesting, violence and other improper behavior towards women?" While we debated the movies ran full house. This issue was debated too in Australia and it was well settled by an Australian judge in 2015. An Indian student Sandesh Baliga in Australia was charged for stalking two women. He had been stalking them for a long time and ignored all their calls for leaving them alone till they had no option but to approach the police. When confronted for the charges he pleaded guilty but blamed Bollywood for misguiding him into believing that women eventually fall in love if pursued/chased enough. He also stated that he learnt the art of stalking from Shah Rukh Khan’s character in film Darr. As per him the male leads in Bollywood movies always got the women to say yes by doggedly chasing them. His lawyer, Greg Barns, said in court that this was “quite normal behavior” for Indian men to pursue women in such a manner and Sandesh Baliga did not realize his actions could be classified as criminal. The judge let him off, though with a warning, accepting the argument that his cultural background influenced the act. The sad fact is that this judgment which made news at International level was conveniently ignored by the Indian public, film industry and the law makers barring few like activist Kavita Krishnan who tweeted “What’s love in Bollywood is what’s stalking in the rest of the world.”       

       Indian films have been feeding the audiences with stalking and eve teasing (euphemism for molestation/sexual assault) wrapped and camouflaged deceivingly as courtship and love. India is a sex segregated society and most boys grow up in ignorance about nuances of gender and sexuality. Men have, but little exposure with women and even less on equal terms as colleagues or friends. This ignorance when juxtaposed with the widespread prevalent myth of male dominance in a society bereft of any healthy outlets for natural sexual desires and urges gives rise to narratives and fantasies where women are mere sexual objects wanting/needing to be dominated. Such inner dark fantasies of people, born out of ignorance and abysmal socio-cultural and economic condition, are cashed upon by film makers to capture audience and make money. Through clever artistic creativity,, film makers backed by stars who already occupy demi-god status turn an outright deranged criminals into adorable heroes like Sharukh Khan in Darr, Ranbir Kapoor in Animal and Shahid Kapoor in Kabir Singh. People are blinded by the cinematic glare and star power and do not find anything abhorrent in seeing their heroes humiliating and forcing themselves onto unwilling ladies. They love seeing the girl harassed, pulled, pushed, blocked and pursued till she gives in. Indian films have not only blurred the distinction between stalking, sexual harassment, courtship and love but it appears to be advocating stalking as a preferred way of wooing and winning over women. The message conveyed is that the stalkers will be rewarded for their persistence and that women’s NO carries no meaning at all.

          Shouldn’t the censor board be raising red flags against normalization/downplaying of such criminal acts? Or they do not realize it? But how come an Australian law maker sitting thousand miles away correctly read the impact our films have on our citizens. On the other side the Censor Board for Film Certification (CBFC) is so vocal and scissors happy about any issue relating to minority, religion, caste, class and history. Even smoking, drinking and cruelty to animals invite sharp scrutiny. But crimes against women, which have forced half of Indian population into four walls, are cream rolled as something COOL and FASHIONABLE. The only palpable explanation to this criminal oversight lies in the fact that Women’s rights and their issues have low priority in our system. The Cinematograph Act 1952 clearly states that the film will not be certified if any part of it is likely to incite commission of any offence. Further under section 5B (2) the Central Government has issued guidelines which stipulates CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) to ensure that scenes degrading or denigrating women in any manner are not presented as also scenes involving violence against women like attempt to rape, rape or any form of molestation scenes are to be avoided.

         Films have always had a huge influence on people and society. Film heroes are idolized and worshipped like GODS and their actions, on/off screen, carry a special sanction of legitimacy and coolness for the millions of their fans. The film and stars owe much to their fans and society for catapulting them to divine heights. It is their moral obligation, therefore, to contribute and give back to the society. The stars need to be aware of their power and privilege and use it for the betterment of society and also STOP projecting psychopathic and morbidly obsessed maniacs as sacrificial/selfless lovers. Since rules and regulations can be easily bypassed on grounds of freedom of speech and artistic liberties it is left to the conscience of the cinema fraternity to indulge in some form of moral/ethical reflection. Film fans should also remember that forcefully trying to elicit reciprocation for one sided love and pursuing women in spite of her NO is a criminal act. Also what is shown as love in Indian movies could be stalking which is a crime, not only in rest of the world but in India too. Our macho heroes, after all, do not believe that a NO means NO if it comes from a woman.