7 Times Bollywood Taught Us The Real Meaning Of Gender Equality And Smashed Patriarchy
Cinema is a reflection of the society we live in. The greatest example of the same is Anubhav Sinha's Article 15. When the movie had released, several protests were held seeking ban on the movie as it apparently showed a caste in bad light.
Two years later, the brutal gangrapes in UP have reminded people yet again that the film was a mere portrayal of the society we live in. Several people on Twitter think that the film replayed in real life yet again.
Over the years, Bollywood films and characters have championed a? cause and touched several issued that remained under the shackles of regressive practices.?
Here is a list of times Bollywood taught us the real meaning of equality.?
#1 Farhan Akhar's Sunny Gill in Dil Dhadakne Do schools the pseudo-feminists on how they are missing the main point of what feminism is
Akhtar as Gill shows Ayesha¡¯s (Priyanka Chopra) husband Manav (Rahul Bose) that he doesn't have to "allow" women to work and rather they should be able to make their own decisions. Whether they want to work or not, remains their choice.
2. Geet from Jab We Met showed us how women shall take their own responsibilities.?
She lives her life on her own terms. She is not convinced by anyone. When her parents decide to get her married, she runs away from her home.?
When things don't go as she planned, she finds herself a job to take care of her expenses. She choses to not got back to her family or man because,?"Kal ko main kissi ko blame nahin karna chahti hoon, ki ji tumhari wajah se meri life kharab ho gayi. Meri life jo bhi hogi, mujhe pata hoga ki meri wajah se hain."?
3. Amitabh Bachchan as Deepak Sehgal in Pink stood up for what was right.?
In the role of a lawyer, Big B showcases that the rule book that the society has for women is just a mere example of?patriarchal culture. He showcases that consent most important. If anyone finds anything about a woman provocative, that's his problem, not hers.?
4.?Did you know, Pankaj Tripathi lived 'Ki and Ka' in real life!
The film starring Arjun Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor didn't quite do well in terms of business but it did an amazing job trying to showcase the fact that household work is also work that most people don't get paid for. In the film, while Kia (Kareena) is the breadwinner, Kabir (Arjun) takes care of the?daily household affairs. He makes a brave choice, just like Pankaj Tripathi did. When Tripathi was struggling in Mumbai to become an actor, his wife, a teacher would work while he would take care of the household chores along with giving auditions.?
Although the film depicted certain shades of patriarchy, the original idea was worth the appaluse.
5. English Vinglish taught us that a woman, just like a man, can learn and achieve anything. She is not "born to make ladoos".
A housewife can be a housewife by choice, but that doesn't mean she is only restricted to four corners of the kitchen. Sridevi's Shashi, who is often ridiculed by her own husband for not knowing a language, delivers a strong speech towards the end of the film. A language is not a mark of intelligence.??
6. Rani Mukherjee as Inspector Shivani Shivaji Roy establishes the fact that a woman can be a tough cop too.?
Being born as a woman doesn't mean she cannot be tough or strong.?Shivani, who is questioned on her capability as a cop being a woman, gives a befitting response to a reporter telling him that she is not even a bit less efficient than her male counterparts.
7. The fact that Shah Rukh Khan's Kabir in Chak De India thinks that women are equally strong and tough as men was another attempt at schooling equality. The same Aamir as Mahavir Singh Phogat taught in Dangal.
Unlike the popular belief, women are not commodities meant for doing household chores like cooking and dishwashing.?After all, "Maari chhoriya chhoro se kam hai ke".
Also Read:?11 Feminist Dads Of Bollywood Who Are Helping To Seed The Idea Of Equality In Our Everyday Lives
