Opinion Industrial-strength sexism?

It was a domestic quarrel,an extremely vicious one but still a domestic quarrel. What did the Kannada film producers’ body do? They banned the actor Nikita Thukral,the Mumbai-based Sandalwood import accused of having a relationship with Darshan,from acting in Kannada films for three years. The head of the producers’ body issued a statement saying the ban was meant to be a “lesson” to all women who interfered with a married man.  

Absurdly,the actor who allegedly bashed up his wife got no ban,not even a reprimand. With three upcoming releases,much Sandalwood money is riding on the star. For the record,Thukral denied that she was carrying on with Darshan. Of course,the law stepped in. Darshan has been arrested and jailed,and has so far been denied bail. 

The Kannada film industry was following the law too — not the law of the land but the law of double standards.  They meddled in a marital conflict only to show that adultery by the husband is acceptable. But if a single woman carries on with a married man,that is solely the woman’s fault.

If you thought that was degenerate,let’s look at what the industry did next. After interfering in a marriage where Vijayalakshmi was stuck in an abusive (Darshan has allegedly attacked his wife before but this is the first time she complained to the police) unhappy marriage,prominent members of the industry including some actors rallied together to coerce Vijayalakshmi to withdraw her complaint.  She complied. 

Among those who “mediated” and tried to “settle” the matter between the husband and wife was Ambareesh,the ageing star and politician,who is considered a respected voice in Sandalwood. Now a Bangalore-based lawyer has filed a contempt case against Ambareesh for interfering with the judicial process. 

Sandalwood is an industry which makes over a hundred films every year,some of them successful,many of them mediocre,but watched by millions. By meddling in the Darshan incident,the industry was holding a mirror to itself. Times have changed but Sandalwood’s portrayal of women on celluloid has not kept up. 

Firstly,female actors can never hope to get 50 per cent of screen time in commercial Kannada movies.  They can forget about lead roles in what is popularly called “female-oriented cinema” because such films are rarely made,with directors like the national award-winning Girish Kasaravalli being rare exceptions. 

In many films,female actors are reduced to being eye candy. The top male actors often decide and dictate who should star opposite them. Female actors rarely dare ask or get what they deserve.  On movie sets too,the double standards are noticeable. Female actors must stand up and greet their male co-stars actors and address them as “sir” to show their deference. In one well-documented instance,director Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar reportedly slapped actor Aindrita Ray for turning up late on the set.  

The only exception perhaps is the plucky,glamorous Ramya — politically well-connected and a recent entrant into the Youth Congress. Ramya is the atypical in that she is reportedly one of the few Sandalwood women who insists on signing a proper contract and sticks by it. When the producers’ body banned Ramya some months ago accusing her of unprofessional conduct,she took them head on and forced them to retract their ban. The exploitation of women actors is rampant in Sandalwood where the web between female actors,ageing politicians and bigamous businessmen is tangled.

Overwhelmed by a public outpouring of support for Nikita Thukral and criticism for its moves,the sheepish producers’ lobby backed off and retracted the ban. But the damage has been done. Sandalwood is an all-male club and beyond the glitz and glamour is a murky,seamy side. 

saritha.rai@expressindia.com