As a seasoned observer of the Indian film industry and having had the privilege to work closely with some of its most iconic personalities, I find myself deeply moved by Javed Akhtar’s insights on the portrayal of women in cinema. His life experience, coupled with his keen understanding of society and contemporary morality, lends a unique perspective to his observations.
Javed Akhtar, renowned for his significant contributions to Bollywood, is someone worth noticing. He’s also recognized for his straightforward and expressive nature. In a recent discussion, the lyricist-screenwriter noted that despite their considerable talent, Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit didn’t secure a major role.
In a conversation with The Indian Express, acclaimed lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, along with his daughter Zoya Akhtar, shared their thoughts on filmmaking and storytelling. During the discussion, Javed Akhtar addressed the depiction of women in films and modern society’s viewpoints regarding females. He highlighted that powerful writing can stem from a clear understanding of contemporary values and ambitions within society.
“Akhtar emphasized that a writer is just as much a part of society as everyone else, sharing the same air. He believes this connection allows for powerful roles to emerge. To illustrate his point, he referenced actresses like Meena Kumari in Saheb, Biwi Aur Ghulam, Nargis in Mother India, and Waheeda Rehman in Guide. However, Akhtar cautioned that ambiguity in morality can sometimes complicate the situation.”
“These two women, Sridevi and Madhuri Dixit, were just as talented as any of the so-called heroines from the past, yet they didn’t receive significant leading roles. This wasn’t due to malice, but rather because society at that time was uncertain about what it meant to be a modern woman. The old saying ‘I’ll stay quiet’ no longer held true, but who could fill its place? There was simply no clear answer.”
As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but echo the words of this seasoned poet who emphasized that we’re on a continuous quest for the contemporary female muse, wandering through the shadows. With a swell of pride, a gentleman disclosed that his cherished daughter, Zoya Akhtar, nestled beside him, had asked him to refrain from showering her with compliments. She confessed, somewhat bashfully, that the director of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara finds it ‘awkward’ when her father extols her talents.
Despite Akhtar’s assertion that only in Zoya’s films does he find a modern woman, it seems the essence of today’s hero remains unclear, as relationships with peers, family, and so forth, appear ambiguous within contemporary society. Writers, being part of this very society, struggle to create significant characters, thereby producing fewer stellar actors, according to his observation.
Significantly, during a recent appearance at We Are Yuvaa’s show “Be A Man, Yaar,” Javed made a point to delve into the depiction of contemporary Indian women in films. He argued that people often misrepresent themselves when they act in ways contrary to their true nature, using the example of the movie “Jab Tak Hai Jaan,” starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, and Anushka Sharma, to illustrate his viewpoint.
The experienced wordsmith and scriptwriter critiqued the dialogue in the movie by one of the female leads, which stated, “In my world, I will marry a man from every nationality, after weeping together!”. He pondered why such efforts were necessary to demonstrate this. He also inquired if she wasn’t considered “empowered”, “progressive”, “trendy”, and “forward-thinking”.
79-year-old individual expressed agreement with us, noting she doesn’t need to exert much effort for it. With numerous nationalities globally, there’s no obligation to delve into that topic. He raised doubts about the message conveyed in a Yash Chopra movie, suggesting they aimed to portray an independent woman but lacked clarity on the theme, leading to overemphasis.
Recently a docu-drama series, Angry Young Men based on the legendary iconic writer duo Salim-Javed was released celebrating their legacy. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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2024-08-31 08:07