Why Indian television is finally addressing atrocities against women
5.04.2014
Mail Online India, 14 марта 2014 г.
WEEKEND ENTERTAINMENT: Why Indian television is finally addressing atrocities against women
Amir Khan returned to the small screen with his talk show Satyamev Jayate season 2 to bring the R-word into our living rooms.
Rape for long was restricted largely to the news channels but Aamir Khan, true to form, presented various aspects associated with the social menace and its victims. Rape survivors Suzette Jordon from Kolkata and Urmila Singh Bharti, a Dalit from Madhya Pradesh, made an appearance on national TV on the show.
The nation saluted the bravado of these women who chose not to be anonymous sufferers and applauded that finally the atrocity was made a talking point among the middle-class audience.
"Fed up of being referred to as 'Park Street victim' for long, I realised that it is time I stopped covering my face and suffering in anonymity," said Suzette, on her decision to come out and speak about her tragedy openly.
The premise of Satyamev Jayate addressing the burning of issue of rape and sexual exploitation was also perfect for Star Plus to launch the trailer of Draupadi vastraharan episode on its epic show, Mahabharat. The most accursed chapter in Indian mythology found a perfect place to announce its beginning on TV.
Twenty-five years ago, BR Chopra's Mahabharat captured the plight of a woman being abused publically and Roopa Ganguly as Draupadi sent shock waves when the episode on vastraharan was aired. A prominent textile brand endorsed the sequence by advertising about sponsoring several metres of silk saree that would be draped around Draupadi for the sequence.
The new version of Mahabharat, however, will be closer to the sentiments of the new generation. Without being too preachy, the episodes will be narrated by Krishna keeping in mind its relevance in the recent times.
"Our aim has been to reach out to the youth through Mahabharat, thus each important episode has been narrated keeping in view this target audience," said Uday Shankar, CEO, Star India.
Infamous for largely catering regressive stuff, TV shows have now opened up to highlight women's uprising.
Popular shows on top General Entertainment Channels (GEC) have tweaked in instances on exploitation of women. Serious issues like rape, sexual harassment at workplaces, child molestation and the casting couch have been addressed in Balika Vadhu, Veera, Savdhan: India Fights Back.
The youth channel Bindass dedicated a new show Halla Bol to narrate real cases of child molestation, stalking and paedophilia.
"Daily soaps are inspired by real life. Rampant increase in cases of rape and sexual exploitation being reported in the news made us realise that the time was perfect to talk about it on our shows. Balika Vadhu addressed issue of date rape," says Purnendu Shekhar, creator of Balika Vadhu.
Most channels were till now wary of taking up strong subjects related to sexual abuse but are now adopting a different approach. "Channels have opened up to the idea of addressing the issue of rape on the prime time entertainment shows. Five years ago, if anyone would have suggested these topics, it would be a sure shot noshow," adds Purnendu, about the changing mentality.
After the December 16 Delhi rape case, Sony's popular crime show Crime Petrol presented a special episode which received huge TVTs.
Star Plus' Veera dedicated few episodes to address a serious issue of smalltown girls exploited in showbiz.
Despite the encouraging beginning, the audience is yet to see a show completely dedicated to the life of a rape victim.
MAHABHARAT
A special chapter was planned to address the vastraharan episode of Draupadi by merging it with the current scenario in society. Saurabh Raj Jain as Lord Krishna will give an interesting twist to the episode - which will be dialogue with the new-generation audience. The serial Mahabharat has linked the epic with the dismal conditions women continue to face in society today. Draupadi's vastraharan forms the premise of Mahabharat, which is being aired on Star Plus.
EK VEER KI ARDAAS: VEERA
A daily soap about sibling bonding incorporated the issue of casting couch in showbiz to create more awareness. Women's rights were aptly discussed in the episodes, keeping in view the wide reach of the show. The makers consciously incorporated a few episodes that narrated how a dreamy-eyed village belle is exploited by a filmmaker. The extension was made in the plot to highlight the rampancy of casting c0ouch in showbiz.
SAVDHAN INDIA: INDIA FIGHTS BACK
ROPING in Pratyusha Banerjee, the original Anandi in Balika Vadhu, the reality crime series has compiled over 400 cases of sexual exploitation and rape cases registered in police stations across cities. It picked reliable and relevant cases to present dramatised versions of some cases depicting atrocities on women. It has covered almost all categories of sexual exploitation including rape, marital rape, sexual exploitation at work place and incestuous rape that were till now considered taboo on the small screen.
By PRIYANKA SRIVASTAVA
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