Two movie reviews together? Why? With intertwined themes, it made sense to me that I reviewed these movies together.
While Hollywood is abuzz with sexual exploitation scandals and gender discrimination issues, Bollywood is not too far behind.
Watch the movie on Youtube: Naked
This 14-minute short film directed by Rakesh Kumar and conceptualized by Ritabhari Chakraborty as well as Arindam Sil, attempts to address issues such as sexual exploitation and views about women in the Indian context.
Essentially, this movie vocalizes the views of most women about their gender roles and their sexuality. Whether this short film is able to convert the closed-minded Indian with its noble intent remains to be seen. Nevertheless, it does provoke one to think and be open to a different point of view.
Kalki Koechlin is effortless in her role as a Bollywood leading lady, mostly because she is probably conveying her own ideas (as well as those of every woman) about her place in society. Ritabhari’s role in the movie is primarily that of a facilitator – her novice journalist character is the foundation on which the story is built.
It’s high time every Indian boy is given the sex education that this movie hopes to provide. Most boys in our country are brought up in households that do not expose them to the woman’s point of view. In many homes, the woman is not even considered a person in her own right. Is it any surprise, then, that many boys in our country grow up completely clueless about how to interact with or behave around females?
But, as vocalized by Kalki’s character, the problem is not just ignorance. If that were the case, then Hollywood wouldn’t be rocked to its core right now. The issue is about power. This aspect has been aptly explored in the film. All in all, a good watch. I definitely recommend that everybody watch this film. It is 14 minutes well-spent.
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Watch the movie on youtube: The Day After Everyday
A different take on the issue of sexual harassment of women on the street is offered by Anurag Kashyap’s ‘The Day After Everyday.’ While Mumbai is considered a relatively safe city for women, I’d never wish on anyone the daily harassment that I endured on the BEST buses, local train platforms, and the streets of Mumbai. One can only imagine how unsafe women feel in other places. Radhika Apte plays the hapless victim who suffers daily indignities at the hands of the local rowdies. Her husband’s advise to her is to simply stop going out of the house. Of course, this is never the solution – it is as ridiculous as locking yourself inside your house if you wish to avoid mosquitoes. A creative solution is required – and that’s exactly what this movie offers. This movie offers a message of hope and optimism. Watch it.
