Are films a catalyst for crimes?

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Sonakshi Sinha in a still from her just released item number Thank God It’s Friday

Kareena Kapoor’s hip shaking item number Fevicol Se was an instant hit with the masses but after the shameful incident in Delhi, the same song was criticised and defined as vulgar. Many were of the opinion that such portrayal of women fuels the mindset of men who commit crimes against women.

But are films responsible for what’s happening in the society or do they simply hold a mirror to show the reality? The topic spurred off a heated discussion among panellists at the ongoing Ficci Frames convention. Actress and activist Shabana Azmi feels that ours is a patriarchal society that will not change in times to come. So, according to her, it is up to the heroines of Bollywood to change the trend of objectifying women in films. “If actresses demand to not be shown in an obscene light, then filmmakers will probably change their approach. I believe that under the guise of celebration of sexuality, you are surrendering to the male gaze. Our actresses should take a tough stand against lyrics that degrade them. Recently I heard that Priyanka Chopra scanned the lyrics of the song she would be dancing to make sure she was not being objectified,” Shabana said.
Actor Kamal Haasan doesn’t feel that the industry should be blamed for crimes in society. He says, “If you look at crimes against women in times when films didn’t exist, does this argument still hold true? For example, if we look at the practice of Sati, who do we pass the buck to?” Sudhir Mishra, who is known for the strong portrayal of women, says, “Films like The Dirty Picture and Kahaani have shown that the audience is ready to accept change. Even in the recently released Sahib, Biwi Aur Gangster Returns, the lead actresses are shown to be totally independent and morally wrong and nobody batted an eyelid.”