With woman centric films like Queen and Piku, there is no denying that the Indian film industry has become more accommodating of women as the protagonists of movies, Vani Tripathi, core committee member, steering committee IFFI and former actress and national secretary of BJP, believes that much more can still be done in this area.
“ We have to tell the ugly tales of violence, the adjustments that women have to make and talk about the collaboration – when a man and woman live together it should be a partnership, the woman should not hide behind the man,” she says, adding that stories of home should find a place in films as well.
“This is not an issue which should be just women for women but rather it should be bi gender. Why should only women make these films when really it is about the male gaze?” she asks. “Big production houses have made it big not because of their gender but because they believed in the craft of film making. At the same time the viewers are equally important in this respect as the film maker will not take the gambit of making another film like this otherwise. Thus the audience too is responsible for creating awareness.”
Even so, Tripathi believes that it is indeed a celebration time for women in cinema and is breaking down a fixed set of moulds. “ For instance take Piku,” she explains, “ The girl is taking care of her senior citizen father but does not give up on her dreams. This goes against the perception that as a caretaker of an old person you have to sacrifice your dreams.”
But Tripathi is adamant that the scripts of TV soaps are in dire need of a change. “ The regressive stories on TV which are written by women, acted by women and watched by women need to change as they are seen in the bedroom and drawing room of families,” she states.
Speaking about the recent debate centered around the censoring of films, Tripathi, who is a member of the CBFC believes that the board should not pretend to be something else. “The board has to look into films that are fit for certification. It is more of a sociological procedure and it should not get involved in the business of creative content. But that said, context of the particular scene of the film is also important,” she says. “We are bound by the neck to a redundant 1952 act which is in need of review and amendment as what worked in 1952 will not work for 2015.”
Tripathi also expressed happiness over Goa being the permanent venue for the film festival. “It makes life easier as there is a stability of thought. You can do more, understand more and create a buzz in advance. Also as it is a tourist hub, it helps get the global reflection that we want to achieve,” she says.
