As a dedicated follower of Indian cinema and someone who has witnessed the evolution of women’s portrayal on the big screen for decades, I find Javed Akhtar’s recent criticism of the dialogue in Yash Chopra’s “Jab Tak Hai Jaan” particularly insightful.
Yash Chopra’s classic movie “Jab Tak Hai Jaan,” featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Anushka Sharma, was unveiled to the public in 2012. This romantic drama has a devoted fanbase among film lovers. However, not too long ago, renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar criticized a particular dialogue for perpetuating a misconception about women’s empowerment in Indian cinema.
Javed Akhtar criticizes Yash Chopra’s Jab Tak Hai Jaan dialogue
During an appearance on We Are Yuvaa’s show “Be A Man,” Javed Akhtar shared his thoughts on how Indian women are represented in films. He expressed his opinion, pointing out that people often overstate or misrepresent things when they try to portray something that is not true to them. To clarify his idea, he referred to the movie “Jab Tak Hai Jaan,” which features Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Anushka Sharma in leading roles as an example of such exaggeration.
The veteran writer questioned the need for the heroine in the film, as she declared, “In my world, I will marry a son from every nationality!” He pondered over her motivation behind such dedication. Was she not considered “empowered,” “modern,” “trendy,” and “progressive” in today’s society?
“He remarked, ‘Really, there’s no need for you to put in so much effort… There are countless nationalities in the world. Don’t worry about it.'”
Javed Akhtar’s take on ‘fake’ empowerment in Jab Tak Hai Jaan
“What does this dialogue signify in that Yash Chopra production? They’re trying to portray a strong female character, but they’re unsure what that means. So, they overstate it,” Javed explained further. He went on to say that contemporary filmmakers are still grappling with the concept of a modern Indian woman.
In his remarks, Akhtar highlighted how films such as “Luck By Chance,” “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” and “Dil Dhadakne Do” directed by Zoya Akhtar portray contemporary women. This indicates that progress is indeed underway.
Yas Chopra’s final directorial work, “Jab Tak Hai Jaan,” was unveiled to the public in 2012, following his passing away. The film featured not only its lead actors but also notable performances by Rishi Kapoor, Neetu Singh, Sharib Hashmi among others. In the meantime, Javed’s last assignment as a lyricist was for the film “Kho Gaye Hum Kahan.”
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2024-07-25 14:37