Scent of a Woman....

This article is with reference to the medium of Indian Cinema. The role of an actress in a movie has undergone a catastrophic metamorphosis. Recently, I came across an article about an actress(?), who proudly claimed to be the "Kissing Queen". The role of the woman in most movies of today has been reduced to the oomph and vulgar objectification of the woman. Thankfully, role-oriented movies keep coming once in a while, and such movies are equivalent to an oasis in a vast desert. The seeker in search of water in the desert would at most times refuse the filthy water being offered today. In the current scenario, the water offered by Chandalika of Tagore fame would be the purest of all. More pure than everything and way above the actual filth.

The land of Madhubala, Savitri, Nutan, Jaya Bhaduri, etc is a sad and mute witness to this plight. The scene is worse in the Telugu and Tamil Filmdoms. These industries seem to thrive on the actresses from the north. The success of an actress is nowadays inversely proportional to her dressing sense. "Lesser, the more merrier" seems to be the order of the day. Well, what is it that makes the public want to see such movies (that gives the porn industry a run for its money). Or is it just the manifestation of the views of the present generation and in the name of woman's emancipation. I frankly do not know. There were a fair share of movies with the oomph factor in the 70's and 80's, courtesy the vamps. But then, what is currently being produced, seems to be with a huge difference in the attitude.

Is a woman a mere object; something to be acquired at all costs. Does an extra-marital affair translate to the expression of a woman's free will. Be it a man or a woman, this expression cannot be condoned. Further, what is being displayed as love in the movies is a crass mis-representation of this sublime emotion. There is no concept of a romantic duet nowadays. Even the songs with the two going around trees amidst nature of the yesterera have given way to a group dance with so many extras with skimpy clothes thrown in for added pleasure. I cannot fathom why all this continues to happen. People seem to be obsessed with one thing - Sex. They do not want to talk openly about it. To satisfy their urges, they seem to derive vicarious pleasure from such movies. Would this be why such movies are being produced. A better solution for these filmdoms would be to provide its loyal fans - XX movies. It is better to shatter the glass rather than live inside a hell-producing glass house.

Compare the present arrant trash with those movies of yesterera. Nutan epitomises the woman in movies like Sujata and Bandini. Madhubala does justice in Chalti Ka Naam Ghadi. Jaya Bhaduri dressed in starched cotton saree with no/minimal makeup emotes amazingly well in Piya Ka Ghar, Abhimaan, Kora Khagaz, etc. It begins to hit you hard with the more you compare. Something must be done about the helplessness and the frustration that one experiences. I am still trying to find that "Something". We cannot and shouldn't gift these movies as a legacy to the children of tomorrow.

What should then be the safest approach? Being against something would mean sticking to that same something. I guess it would be best to let things be as they are. Does this contradict the previous para. The road to salvation definitely knocks on the doors of sins and suffering. I am sure that the manifestation of the true spirit of the woman - the feminine face of God would happen amidst such filth and chaos. The children of today and tomorrow would learn it the real hard way, making the lesson all the more valuable.

PS: As has been mentioned, thankfully, there are a few handful of movies with real substance, that surface every now and then. Such movies need the right attention and appreciation from us; whether they succeed or not at the box-office is an altogether a different issue.