In a country like ours, where movie stars enjoy venerated status, they are in a unique position to do something positive, something immensely good to the people, to actually make a change. Some adopt a cause and use their status to do great, charitable things. In some cases, though, their A-list status is enough to publicise a deed, be it good or bad. In that regard, a ‘star’ at the top of his (or her) reign, has to be ultra careful in making sure his movie choices cannot be misconstrued as anything less than stellar.
This was something that Tamil actor Ajith forgot when he signed up for the movie ‘Varalaru’ a.k.a ‘Godfather’. At that time, the man’s career was in the doldrums and since then, he has slowly regained his lost lustre in the eyes of his adoring public. But with ‘Varalaru’, he has lost whatever respect I had for him as a person.
In the movie, Ajith plays the part of the father, the son and the evil villain who also turns out to be his other son – surprise! Daddy dear is a trained bharathnatyam dancer, which for some reason, equates him to a eunuch and all he does is elaborate abhinayam in place of regular expressions. Okay, harmless I hear you say. He is – till the day he is two shakes of a duck’s tail away from being married to this luscious babe – and she dumps him. Why? Only ‘cos he comes across more girly than her! This of course enrages the hero!
So he sets of to prove his manhood. How does he do it? Oh by this easy way of raping her. In her room. With a whole household full of servants and mother hollering away, banging on the door.
Though the girl screeches it at the top of her voice, he has great trouble hearing the word ‘NO’ and calmly proceeds to ‘show’ her that he is a man, after all!
What really takes the biscuit is his explanation to the girl’s mum after he was done. Apparently, he did what he did because the girl was having doubts about his manliness. How else could a bloke to prove he is a man? By raping the said woman, of course!
The cherry on top of this sick icing happens a few scenes later, when the girl’s mum pleads his case to her now pregnant daughter, with the standard “He is a good man, sweetheart” line. Of course he is, if you discount the fact the raped you to prove his manhood. He is so the man!It is movies like this that make me want to gag. Here we have organisations trying to fight crimes against women and then we have movies like this tosh, that make a whole mahatma out of the sod who commits this heinous crime. Even more gaggable fact is that, the adoring public turned up in droves to see this load of crap, shelling out their hard earned money hand over fist to make it a hit. A hit! This &%$#* of a film!
There’s no accounting for taste, is there? Women getting assaulted – well that is no filmy matter, is it? Why would one trivialize it so? What the hell was the Censor Board doing when it deemed this palpable fare?
Two things about such ventures astound me
- how could a sane person decide portraying such roles is actually a good thing to do
- why an intelligent person would throw good, hard earned money at such claptrap?
It also makes me wonder when the so-called ‘stars’ would actually realise what amazing pull they have and use it to actually do some good, rather than to purely rake in the dosh. Looking cool and setting little girlies’ heart go pitty-pat is all fine and dandy. But to actually pass on sensible message, one that will do some good, for a change, whilst looking cool – well that’s the ult, isn’t it?Any takers? Ajith? Maddy?
ps: Any one who wants to claim ‘oh Daddy Ajith repented what he did and tried to make amends’ and thereby prove this is a worthy film, please, save your breath.
EW. And to think I liked Ajith! This sounds like a really messed up version of a recent (?) Malayalam movie but I think in that one, the hero comes back and fights goons, not rape women. Blech.
K, this sort of puts a crimp in my style. I was going to be all lighthearted and tell you you’re tagged. You’re still tagged but my light heart just sank like a stone.
Pathetic! Why does an educated person like Ajith take up such a role? Unfortunately Tamizh movies have for too long relied on this “rape-is-ok-as-long-as-you-get-married” gig. Makes you want to gag. Wonder if fans writing to Ajith would have an effect?
Ams,
Will you heart sink further if I tell you the man actually won the Best Actor Filmfare award for this movie?? hmm tag – how did I guess? Oh yeah, when I read your follow up to J’s! Has she got your tag bug too??
Apu,
You place too much faith in the system, girlie. He is the ‘soooperstar’ now. Why the hell would trivial banalities like this matter? Am sure his fan club would be erecting temples in his honour now!!
DG, you’re kidding me! Wow. Just…. wow.
PS – whaddya mean tag bug? I never didnt! And talking of “sooperstars”, I have a post coming up on Sivaji Ganesan. Good things I hope
Me: yep! scout’s honour! the bloke actually won Best Male for this. I tell u, no justice in the world, i know but no sense too, apparently. BTw,he’s doing SRK’s role in the Tamil DON, Billa. Orey cool shades, and sexy suits!
Whatever did Sivaji do to u btw? or is it something to do with the military hotel link?
‘course u got the tag bug, dearie – i have left messages on all my tagees that any brickbats re this tag shld be aimed in ur direction. hyuk hyuk!
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The good ol’ normalization of a patriarchal violent and oppressive system through film. Now THAT’S the way to brainwash people.
Oh dear god. I’m gobsmacked. And this he got a filmfare award for this? What is more disturbing is this was a hit, what does it say about the attitude of the average person in the audience?
DG: Yep! He sure did! Best Male Actor Filmfare Award. I was stunned to hear comments like ‘ooh, he has done the part of a Bharatnatyam dancer and the mannerisms soooo well!’ from folks who watched the movie. Well, what about the rest of it? The message that is sent across? As if the thug types need ammo like this to justify their nefarious activities!
Nice post. What annoys me is this.. When one points out such things out in Tamil / Indian movies all I hear in response is “Oh you take these things way too seriously”. We become the ones who overreact!!
Thanks, Vidya! I know – that sort of comment gets to me too! The whole ‘we are like this only’ attitude pisses me off, big time! Is clamouring for sensitivity and expecting quality overreacting? I don’t think so!
We should keep at it till the others give in!
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My parents just got done watching this movie and told me about it. They had no clue it would be so disturbing. I am really not much into Tamil movies as I was raised in the North, but to see such an amazing level of misogyny and homophobia is sickening. What is even more bothersom is that apparently this movie was a blockbuster that ended up winning numerous awards. Surprisingly, a google search for some critical analysis of this movie/scene only yielded your blog. Its sad that nobody in the mainstream media in India picked this up and tore the movie apart to pieces for glamorizing honor rape.