Tuesday 30 January 2018

Dear Swara Bhasker, your letter on ‘Padmaavat’ got me thinking

The points that you put forward seem baseless if you think of it from the perspective of a viewer, writes Soumyani Ghoshal in the Quint in response to Swara Bhasker's oppen letter on Padmaavat. Read on:

Dear Swara Bhasker,

I have immense respect for you as an actor. But unfortunately, this particular open-letter has forced me to put forth some ideas regarding this film, Padmaavat(i) and the allegations that you have made against the director and the cast.

The points that you put forward seem baseless if you think of it from the perspective of a viewer. The film is merely a picturisation of 13th century 'Hindustan’, and the director has tried his best to portray that through his film. It would seem extremely unrealistic to portray these women in an emancipated light.


While having these women fight against the Khilji dynasty and safeguard themselves would indeed have been an empowering and inspiring sight, it wouldn't have made any sense to the time the movie has been set.

Needless to say, I am sure the director has made use of his creative liberty to add some glam to the film.

No one is trying to romanticise or glorify the idea of Jauhar through this film. That’s like saying that the practices of adultery and polygamy were justified, glorified and romanticised through ‘Bajirao Mastani’ (not to mention Tanu Weds Manu Returns, a film you were a vital part of).

I hope you don't believe that.

Warm regards,
A woman, and not just a vagina,

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