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‘MEN TOO ARE SEX OBJECTS...’
Not just women, even men are sex objects! “From Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan to John Abraham all have been portrayed as sex symbols. If someone is doing it, it’s their right but difference lies in the class and taste it is shown. However, mainstream Bollywood is not doing it anymore,” says filmmaker Anubhav Sinha.
He was speaking during a session ‘Books, Cinema & Women’ on the opening day of Lucknow Literary Festival at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan on Friday.
On the panel were Bharatiya Janata Party exnational secretary Vani Tripathi Tikoo and research scholar Guru Prakash. The session was moderated by Hindustan Times senior resident editor Sunita Aron.
Vani seconded Anubhav and said it depends on the context of narration. “Take example of Dirty Picture which was a sizzling story of south Indian actress Silk Smitha but look how beautifully the story was told and the character portrayed by Vidya Balan,” she said.
WOMEN HERO!
Women have started becoming the ‘hero’ of films nowadays but still there is long way to go, says Gulaab Gang filmmaker Anubhav.
“So far no film with a woman as hero has clocked ₹100-200 crore at the box office. Pink had Amitabh Bachchan. When I was producing Gulaab Gang I struggled to find finances despite having Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla in the lead. Today, the scenario is better,” he says.
To this Vani said: “Earlier, for women-hero stories the comments used to be like: ‘are you mad!’ But, now good content is being appreciated and that is why some good cinema is being made.”
INSTANT KARMA
On regressive TV show Vani says, “Today, with young population and vast internet users content is now on our palm (mobile phones). The answer is in audience’s hand — if they start dumping bad and regressive stuff and go for good cinema or TV shows, then things are ought to change. It’s instant karma now.”
Talking about women and empowerment Guru Prakash quoted Swami Vivekanand who had said “that they themselves are so powerful that what can men empower them”.
He said there is very less representation of women of marginalized section in literature and cinema. “Why only heroic stories are told? Normal work should also get voice,” he says.
On this Anubhav said, “Women have accepted the way people want them to be. It’s a really dangerous state. They should stop asking for empowerment as they are themselves capable of empowering themselves.”
Vani appreciated the conversation and said that it was great to hear two men in the panel talk about women empowerment.
LOCAL IS GLOBAL
When an elderly women in the audience pointed out that today people were drifting away from their roots, Anubhav said he too was guilty of shooting 7 of his movies abroad.
“These so-called smaller cities are where our roots are and today cinema is thriving
on showing such stories. I have just completed my first film in my home state and realized what I have missed. I have realized that the more we are local the more we will be global.”
He quoted Satyajit Ray’s work which has earned him global recognition.
BHOJPURI ON WISH LIST
The Varanasi-born film maker wants to make a Bhojpuri film. “It’s such a sweet language. I associate it with Benaras, Girija Devi, kajri, thumri. It’s certainly not about ‘lipstick or lollypop se’. I have serious intention about making a Bhojpuri film,” he said.