Women’s rights and Movie industry
It is tough to let go when one watches male centric main stream movies bashing women of all age groups with ghastly comments and atrocities of the highest order without any disclaimers or statutory warnings.
I watched a scene where dowry was glorified and I was forced to think why dowry related comments and scenes are still glorified in spite the Dowry prohibition Act, 1960. Why are some men and women ok with giving and accepting dowry. Why is it ok to discuss what you gave your daughter and what you took for your son.
Further while violence against animals are covered by statutory warnings why such warnings are missing when it comes to portrayal of violence against women and children in visual media.Our citizens are not capable enough to understand that crimes against women and children holds the highest level of punishment.Rape deaths and dowry harrassment cases lodged in this country on a daily basis clearly testifies against the male population who considers such acts as heroic.
While the entertainment industry glorifies such male chauvinist characters what it does not understand is the far reaching impact such visuals and comments have on the young growing citizens of this country.
Appalled by the way Indian movies project female actors and the second lead usually reserved for them, I thought of approaching the right authorities.
Last year I wrote to the President of India regarding the immediate requirement for static disclaimers when “offences against women are portrayed in movies ” the grievance/suggestion was well received at the President’s Secretariat and it was forwarded promptly to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting . However the Ministry gave me a cold reply stating that my suggestions were noted.
As per the guidelines which forms part of the Indian Cinematograph Act, all scenes degrading women or those which are abusive deserves a disclaimer however Indian media is only keen on animals rights and health advisories. Women’s rights in this country are treated with no care. I was utterly hurt by few scenes in Indian movies were rape is portrayed in a ruthless manner but disclaimer popped for ‘ how consumption of alcohol is injurious to health’ and how smoking kills people and how riding a motorcycle without helmet becomes an offense. While all these disclaimers were shown I did not see anything stating that ‘rape is a criminal offense or how abusing women attracts the highest punishment’.In this country where rape is considered as a heroic act such disclaimers are compulsory to enlighten the viewer especially the young ones who will surely get biased by such irresponsible media propagations.
Although Ministry officials did not give me a satisfactory response, I was happy to see that my suggestions were noted and recently when I watched the movies #anjaampathira and #forensic I saw the disclaimer incorporating my suggestions
REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.
