Journalism of Courage
Influence of artscinema,theatre etc at large,on the role of women in societythat was the point to ponder at a panel discussion organised by VIVA-Jet that had Shabana Azmi,Shyam Benegal and Lilette Dubey.
It was interesting that Benegal and Azmi,who have done yeomans service for cinema with meaningful roles for women,were quick to acknowledge that commerce,more than art,determines the role of women in society. Azmi recalled that Arth,among her finest movies,wherein she played wife to errant husband Kulbhushan Kharbanda,had distributors unconvinced about the end. They were keen that the story be altered and Pooja forgive her husband. As it turned out,director Mahesh Bhatt and Azmi dug in their heels over retaining the original story where Pooja demurs from a reconciliation with her cheating spouse. The film,in addition to earning rave reviews,turned out successful. Women in particular were drawn to it and Azmi admitted that women came to her in droves seeking advice on marital problems. The feisty actor,who just turned 60,hit the nail on the head when she pointed out that art required popular patronage and that the audiences were part of the problem. Its true. The lack of a sizable audience for serious or alternative cinema has formed the core of the creativity-versus- commerce debate that crops up time and again in Bollywood. Considering the fact that entertainment is now a bonafide revenue-generating endeavour,it follows naturally that commerce dictates creative decisions.
Mainstream Hindi films have done little for the cause of women usually portrayed as victims a few exceptions notwithstanding but a message with a dash of potboiler masala popularised by Rajkumar Hirani may just do the trick for womankind as well! So bring on the entertainment please.
Badnaam factor
Speaking of audience choices,Dabangg has from all accounts had a bigger opening than 3 Idiots.
What it has also done is got producers and filmmakers to consider stories and themes set in rural and rustic India. The Hindi hinterland that had lost out to Melbourne,London and New York seems to be resurfacing as the new hunting ground for stories. After NRI and city-bred heroes,rustic desi is the new buzzword!
Meanwhile Zandu Balm manufacturers are reportedly upset about the Munni badnaam hui song from Dabangg! That bit of news splashed in the papers could be just another clever publicity spin,but if its true then head honchos at the said company need their heads examined! What better way to get back into public consciousness than a popular number? After films,item numbers may just be the new fad in ads too!
