Bollywood
Madhur Bhandarkar – The Director Who Showed Us Reality May Now See The Reality Himself
Nov 11th
On 11 November 2009, came a shocking decision for Mr Madhur Bhandarkar when a Mumbai Court convicted him for rape of Miss Preeti Jain. She alleged that she had sexual relations with the director. She was subjected to forced sex whenever she refused to do it consensually.
The credentials of the model turned actor Preet Jain are also doubtful. She had put similar allegations on composer. Moreover she was sent to jail for conspiring murder of Mr Bhandarkar.
This sexual scandal is connected with power and position rather than love and lust. The actress was denied the privilege of a leading role and she revenged the director with the case of rape. She took the defence that the relations were made by force and deceit and therefore she was protected by the Indian Penal Code under section 376 .
The decision may be woman friendly but the credentials of the case has to be looked into. If there was consensual sex it cannot be categorized as rape just because the aspirations of the actress were not fulfilled.
This is not the only case that involves bollywood and sexual harassment. The recent Shiny Ahuja case is even worse. In Bhandarkar’s case the model did have continuous consensual sexual relations with the director but in the other case, the maid was subjected to rape by her master. Fortunately the evidence was not destroyed as she did not cleanse her body before going to the police.
Time and again such incidents have occured in Bollywood. Mamta Kulkarni’s sister had alleged Anupam Kher for molesting her. Rajesh Khana, Aditya Pancholi and Jackie Shroff were framed in similar cases. Shakti Kapur who was shunned by bollywood after his sting operation is again into the showbiz.
People are concerned about rape victims till the case is discussed in media. When the media forgets an issue so do the people. The sufferers are the only ones who have to go through the legal system. The actors can easily escape through resources, influence and power but the victim is forced to live a life of destitute who is belittled by the paternal society for standing up against for herself. Societal norms are still against working woman.
Their harassment is always questioned and the answer often lies in her character. May be Preeti Jain was actually raped. It doesn’t make a difference whether she has or hasn’t acted in obscene videos. Why the character of women is taken into consideration when we form opinion about rape cases? Or the silver screen of image of Shiny makes us helpless to believe that he was guilty?
Celebrity should not be punished to set an example for efficiency of the Indian Legal System rather he must be punished if he has committed a crime. Just forming opinions about the accused and the victim would lead us no where.
Mumbai is a Metropolitan, Not a Religious Playground for Politicians – Pakistan IPL Players Controversy and Shah Rukh Khan Comments
Feb 9th
Posted by meghna in Bollywood
5 comments
Shah Rukh Khan’s support to the Pakistani players in IPL bidding made him face a lot of trouble. He was not only threatened but also targeted by the Shiv Sena. He was alleged to be a traitor and was dared to speak in favour of Pakistani players in future. He stood up for his beliefs and refused to apologize. Fortunately people from Bollywood and elsewhere have now started recognizing their right to speech.
When Shiv Sena recommended Shah Rukh to live in Pakistan instead, this infuriated not only his admirers but also his father who was a freedom fighter and had played an instrumental role in the Quit India Movement. Shah Rukh’s father (Taj Mohammed) was one of the few Muslims who decided to leave Pakistan and settle in India. It is both ironical and shameful that Shiv Sena which had played no role in the Indian Freedom Struggle assumes that it has power to deport citizens of India to some other country.
The question is not on inclusion of players but its on whether an individual has a right to express his opinion or not. Democracy protects this right but may be Shiv Sena fails to recognize the true meaning of democracy. They believe that restricting and instructing people would serve their purposes and goals. They are the Taliban who have not attained absolute power till now. They employ every method to threaten, fright and manipulate people. They are least concerned about the development of the state as if they were they would have been more instrumental in issues that really mattered to the state like conditions of farmers etc. But they waste their energies in deciding which society, festival, group, religion, celebrity and film to target. They wish to seek limelight with everything they can.
Mumbai was not built in a day. The city has contribution from various communities and these communities lived in harmony with one another until such groups infuriated the feelings of hatred amongst them. Isn’t Shiv Sena promoting communal tensions and disturbing peace of the nation. If they have a problem with non-maharashtrians then Ambani’s, Bachchan’s, Birla’s etc would all have to leave the state. Ironically 50% of the economy of the state comes from the non-maharashtrians and if they evacuate the state would be in a huge financial loss.
Historically Maratha’s were not essentially against the Mughals. Instead of looking at the struggle between the two as a Hindu and Muslim fight it should be looked as a battle for power and state power. But Shiv Sena has always projected themselves as the protector of Hinduism and Maratha but they fail to understand that a protector never dictates.
The plight of Maharashtran’s and their unemployment must be definitely taken into considerations. There are various universities and organizations which ensure that the natives are not deprived of the opportunity to work or study. Ensuring jobs to Maratha’s is a good gesture but taking away the jobs of Non-Maratha’s is not a solution. India is a culturally diverse and homogeneous society ; demarcating cultural boundaries would not help anyone. Jinnah demanded a land for Muslims and Pakistan was formed. Are we ready to witness the emergence of MARATHASTAN? I’m sure we wont even like to imagine that.
Promoting culture and heritage is one thing and imposing it on others is another. What Shiv Sena is doing is the latter. If I’m forced what to wear, what to watch, what to eat or even what to speak it would only lead to oppression. Mr Thakeray has a right to suggest but he has no right to oppress.
Every individual has a right to decide and it can not be taken away by dogmatic powers like Shiv Sena. Gone are the days when Bihar was only for Bihari’s, Rajasthan only for Rajasthani’s and Maharashtra only for Marathi’s. We are Indian’s and will remain Indian’s no matter what Shiv Sena believes or propagates. Our Constitution has conferred this right upon us and no one can deprive us from the privilege of being a citizen of the country. By weakening the social thread of the country, the Thakeray’s are only helping the terrorists. They may intend to project themselves as protagonists but their actions have benefited only the rivals. Isn’t disturbing national peace a disguised terrorism? The actor is scared about the protection of his family. Isn’t is taking away his right to life and dignity? I think it is.
Before independence if people thought that they have greater loyalty to their regions then to their motherland, it was justified but now we are not just Marathi, Marwari, Gujarati or Sindhi; we are Indians. Our out most loyalty lies with the nation and not just with our region or religion. Let us unite so that no British rule is established again, no Taliban ever dominates us and so that no terrorist can ever take advantage of our internal conflicts. Let’s never destroy our own resources and kill our own people because by this we are proving our loyalty to enemies and not to out motherland.