They only remember the word vagina: Swara Bhasker on Padmaavat letter
January 29, 2018  13:29
image
Bollywood actress Swara Bhaskar was trolled on social media for slamming Sanjay Leela Bhansali in an open letter.

In an open letterpublished on The Wire late on Saturday, Swara had decried glorification of self-immolation customs Sati and Jauhar in Bhansali's controversial film Padmaavat

She began her note by congratulating Bhansali for being able to release Padmaavat despite the hurdles -- something she says she even fought trolls for on social media.

The actress, who played a small part in Bhansali's Guzaarish, watched "Padmaavat" first day, first show", and decided to share her concerns as it left her "stunned".

Swara said the climax which shows multitude of women dressed in red marching towards their deaths "seduced the audience into being awestruck and admiring of this act".
"Your cinema particularly is inspiring, evocative and powerful. It can move audiences to emotional highs and lows. It can influence thinking and that, Sir, is why you must be responsible as to what it is you are doing and saying in your film."
The actor said acts like Sati and raping women are two sides of the same coin.
She explained the parallels between the two crimes, saying the depiction of the Sati/Jauhar would have been justified had the director condoned the victim-blaming mindset, which infests the country, in Deepika Padukone-led period drama.

"That's what I felt like at the end of your magnum opus. I felt like a vagina. I felt reduced to a vagina-only," Swara said.

However, social media got divided over the letter.

Some netizens slammed Swara for judging a movie based on history with a present-day point of view while others termed it as a highly irresponsible film.

Later, Reacting to trolls Swara tweeted, "Funny that people cannot get over the fact that a woman said Vagina!    Funny that in a 2440 word article making fairly comprehensible arguments they only remember the word Vagina!!! 🙄 So... Vagina vagina vagina vagina vagina vagina...............vagina vagina VAGINA!!!!!"

Here are some the reactions to Swara's letter. 

@suchitrak
Funny that an actress who can play an erotic dancer/ prostitute with such elan  should feel like a vagina after watching a story of a pious queen . What standards are these ...tch tch

@AniGuha
Boom!
The only #Padmaavat piece you need to read comes from the inimitable @ReallySwara. Fearless, incisive, honest - exactly how we need our protagonists to be in 2018 (on screen, and off).

@JagratiShukla29
Swara Bhaskar & her Pseudo Liberal Gang Glorifies #Suicide & Wants Section 309 IPC (Attempt to commit Suicide) to be Decriminalized,citing Right to Dignified Life (choose Death) under Article 21 as the Premise.Why doesn't that Logic apply for #Padmavati @ReallySwara?#Padmaavat

@RajaSen
Swara Bhaskar's brave, brave piece on #Padmaavat should give us all pause. This is a highly irresponsible film (but one that deserves to be made and released, of course). Bravo, @ReallySwara.

@Starseed_Me
Super saddened to read your views about #Padmaavat! And more surprised as you know the movie craft yourself!
A difference of opinion is one thing but with your views you've belittled the entire women community!
OR
Can we say some 'jealousy in the air for #SwaraBhaskar?'
 
@vebhuti
@ReallySwara Thank you for writing this.
« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES