2014 Is A Red Letter Year For Women Oriented Films In Bollywood

   So what is so ​disturbing about Mary Kom to me as a woman? The film is a very synthetic tale that never allows the audiences to connect with the struggle of the valiant boxer. Looking at the brighter side of things, it could have been way worse if Priyanka hadn’t shone bright in the film. But the maleficent clap traps and superfluous airs are largely forgivable by the audiences. However, the point of this article in not another dissection of the film but how 2014 is a breath of fresh air in context of the women oriented films that have come this year!

  Beginning with Queen, finally the industry has come off age that isn’t obliged to make women-based films where the lady is doing things all for the betterment of mankind. She was just a very usual character who was facing such a relatable issue. Her growth speaks through the film and the final canter validates itself because of the story. When there is no conscious effort to prove the point of the story, the film is better told. The best thing about Queen is that it doesn’t reek of feminism in a very academic way. It makes it point in a very layered film and ends up entertaining in its course.

    Why is there this heavy expectation from films to change patriarchal attitudes internalized in the audiences? It is expecting too much from films whose job is to merely entertain. And any change cannot be attributed to a film alone ofcourse.

   While you gloat about Queen’s success in making a fresh woman oriented film, there was also Mardaani this year which is a fight saga again. I personally quite enjoyed Mardaani because of its dedication as a film that invests solely to one social issue without falling for frills. It was a good film but I had a massive issue with the film’s climax. Why does a woman need to beat up the villain and immerse herself in showcasing her physical prowess over a man. It was a case of feminism going massively wrong. Though there is great amount of satiation for a woman in times of sexual terrorism to see the scene, trying to desperate to be a misguided feminist is a wrong measure taken merely to inject in a clap-trap!

  It is all in keeping with the Rekha tradion of movies like Khoon Bhari Maang where she beats up Kabir Bedi. Satisfying the commercial audiences and adding to the staple fare, I have a problem when a powerful woman is all about physical power. I don’t respect Mary Kom because she is a physically powerful person. I respect her for fighting against social pressures, nature’s pressures and still making her mark. The moral fabric of the lady reigns for me more than her physical power. Bollywood constantly reduces the power of a woman by harping on the fact that she can make 10 people fly.

   With Mary Kom, I had other issues. The film invests too little time in telling the story of a magnificent lady. The film hurries through her difficult portions. The only scene where her physical range is tested is so delightful to watch. But it doesn’t qualify as a woman-centric film much. Having a woman as a protagonist is not the sole criteria of woman oriented films, it must further the goal of having more stories being told from the point of view of women. Obviously the commercial viability of the film will work towards it undoubtedly.

   Eventually it is all a part of business but if in between the monetary transactions, attitudes can change, then why not? The good footfalls for Queen, Mardaani and now for Mary Kom too is a testimony of the fact that there is an audience to watch films with women protagonists. Probably the box office range will still not be enough to rake 100 crores but there is definitely a visible change and gradually will pave way for more.