20th March, Mumbai: Bollywood has always presented us with a unique concept in every movie. It has always tried its level best to show a completely different perspective to change the minds of the people and in many cases it has resulted positively.But still it has managed to keep up some stereotypes as priorities which has and is being followed till decades.
It can clearly be seen in Hindi cinema that females whether they are in the role of mother,sister, wife, niece etc. need the help of the males in their day to day life to deal with their insecurities,to save themselves from the dirty elements of the society and others.
The males are always seen and considered as the protectors and saviors or the one who gives women the social validation and the respect they deserve by marrying them. The females are always shown as they are the weakest and sensitive with less brains and with less innovative ideas. They are always considered to be the dependent ones, whether they are working or not . There is not one movie which can be the only example of women stereotyped. Infact not only audiences but male actors also observe this, Veteran actor Victor Banerjee had once said, “Bollywood is a cancer. Hindi commercial cinema has denigrated women. We owe a debt of ingratitude to Bollywood for having insidiously polluted our culture covertly.”
In the movie Jab we met a dialogue was said which if seen, listened and observed properly shows how bollywood movies motivates and influences derogatory stereotypes. Quoting down the dialogue of the movie which says “Akeli ladki khuli hui tijori ke jaise hoti hai” . Another dialogue from the movie khandan which shows how men in the form of husbands are perceived as god’s “Tumhi mere Mandir,Tumhi meri Puja, Tumhi devta ho”. Another most loved and used dialogues by the common people till date comes from the movie Mard which says “mard ko dard nahi hota” which obviously shows that women’s are the inferior and delicate ones whereas on the other hand men are blessed with the iron body and soul which cannot feel any kind of pain.
The movie Malamaal shows how these men judge a women with their frivolous thinking and therefore can do anything to women, according to a dialogue “agar khubsurat ladki ko na chedo toh woh bhi toh uski beizzati hai na” . Another dialogue comes from the movie Benaam Badshah. The dialogue quotes “aurat ki izzat par agar daag lag jaye toh woh kabhi nahi dhul sakta hai ”. So what exactly does this movie mean that women’s dignity lives in her sexual etiquettes and what about men’s dignity and masculinity? The movie wanted’s dialogue is not less than adding fuel to the fire the dialogue says “Tu ladki ke peeche bhagega,ladki paise ke peeche bhagegi,tu paise le peeche bhagega , ladki tere peeche bhagegi” this quote shows how women’s are identified as gold diggers or the one who doesn’t have any value of love and care what they only need is money . Women’s body shaming has also not disappeared from the Bollywood till now and this can easily be seen in the movie main tera hero’s dialogue “itni moti hai yeh ki agar weighing scale par khadi ho gayi na toh vajan ke badle to be continued aayega” so what does this exactly mean that now these movies and men will decide women’s body size .
Movie Dabang 2’s item song has a famous line “main toh tandoori murgi hoon yaar gatka le saiyaan alcohol se” . This song is the biggest proof why item numbers have ruined the minds of people and to the utter surprise we have made it our party anthem. not only this the other most gratifying dialogue comes from the movie cheeni Kam which says “shadi woh keemat hai jo ek aadmi sex kr liye chukata hai,sex wo keemat hai jo ek aurat shadi ke liye chukati hai” this dialogue can be claimed true because marriage gives the social validation to make love or to do anything without any restriction or permission and in some cases womens are even forced to do sex by their husbands in the name of right but logically and legally it is marital rape.
These movies, dialogues and songs are a proof and in fact a serious shameful issue to be observed and also to be worked on .Consciously or unconsciously, we take Bollywood as a reflection of our society. Hence, it can be concluded that stereotyped portrayals of women in movies is definitely contributing to rampant sexism in India.