Javed Akhtar

Hindi cinema shies away from depicting the image of the contemporary woman because filmmakers don't know how to define her - Javed Akhtar

"Hindi cinema shies away from depicting the image of the contemporary woman because they don't know how to define her."

Women of desire This current trend of the sexually aggressive heroine cannot be termed a trend. The heroines are few and far in between. They are not the top notch actresses. The films are not block busters or hits to term them as a trend. They are not mainstream. They just create ripples. It is still the Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai which rule. And it is just as a wave or formula which is being tried. It is like, OK this one did not work, so let us try this. There is no good role for the Hindi film heroine even today. In fact the 50s and 60s had better roles written for female characters in movies. Apsara vs Sita Hindi cinema shies away from depicting the image of the contemporary woman because they do not know how to define her. Earlier they had a stock image. They had a definite idea of the woman. She will be the ideal woman. She will stay at home while her husband can go to the kotha and she can keep waiting and sing a bhajan in the meanwhile. The doormat always. The Adarsh Bharaitya Nari. Meena Kumari was doing films like Main Chup Rahoongi. At present, the society is in flux. Parents are themselves unclear on how much freedom they can give their daughter. Who is the contemporary woman - filmmakers don't know or don't want to describe. Liberals fear our peers will call us reactionaries if we attempt to image the contemporary woman. Those who flatter want to please all - the conservatives and the liberals. Next: Manisha Koirala