“Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically.”
These are the opening lines by DH Lawrence’s book “Lady Chatterlay’s Lover”. It can be quoted as the best example for the situation of women in Indian cinema. Filmmakers are constantly moving the scale up for making male dominated and absurd movies. In the process, they are portraying a wrong image of women in the movies. And we, as audience, are cordially accepting it; we are not just accepting but loving such films.
This is the 21st century, where Indian women are self-employed, doing jobs in private and government sectors, winning gold medals for India in various sports, contributing more in civil services than they did in last several years, representing India in various countries, flying fighter jets and sailing on infinite. However, Bollywood films are portraying women as creatures desperate for love. Their ultimate goal is to find love and love only. As if women don’t have other things to do. They don’t play, they don’t have other aims, etc.
Racism had also been a part of Bollywood. Actresses with fair skin only had been given roles; roles were not given based on acting skills. Beauty is measured by fairness of skin. Acting skills are overlooked in Bollywood majorly.
Actresses are given less roles as compared to male actors and sometimes even their scenes are not related to the story. And in some scenes, women have to show their bodies more than necessary.
Bollywood makes a direct impact on the life’s of audience. This is a serious issue we need to understand. This is a disease we need to cure or else it will ruin the lives of people as well as the talents in our country.