The Social Side of Bollywood

I'm all about the glam and gloss in Hindi films -- trust me, I may sit and oust Karan Johar, but I've seen every single of his OTT films. However, amidst the luster of a Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna and one I Hate Luv Storys lie a few films which make an impact which is far greater. Every so often, when we are lucky enough I believe, we are bestowed with a social film. A director will take it upon himself to make a film that is hard-hitting and honest. Over time, the issues have changed from being more complacent to ones that are more prevalent in time. I for one, have always advocated for such films. You see, the only two things that really sell in India is Cricket and Bollywood. Now, how do you incorporate the murder of the female child into cricket? Can't do it right. So you opt for option two. Desi folks (or most of them) absolutely adore Hindi films and thus, if you can manage to work a burning issue into a film, you can pretty much be sure your message will be noticed, if nothing else.

The first social film that my memory can recall was Deepa Mehta's Shabana Azmi-Nandita Das' Fire. I remember being all of 13 and watching a film about women in love with one another. That was my introduction into the world of homosexuality. I grew up with a pretty liberal mother who believed her children needed to be aware of everything in the world. And thus, despite our rather sheltered upbringing, we were aware of issues that were taboo. From then on, I developed a slight bias to such films. In time, more such films were introduced into the world of Hindi films. But the issues haven't always been related to sex. Yes, we are yet to completely understand and fathom homosexuality in India without mocking them - ahem Karan Johar ala Dostana; you can be sure more films on the gays and lesbians in our country will be made, but our socially aware filmmakers have moved on. It's about political strife, infidelity, education, AIDS, suicide, ragging, violence and even untold secrets of the glamour world. Some issues work better than others; Some win awards, others are shunned for reasons that are rather shameful, I believe.

Very few filmmakers actually have the balls to come out and place pinpoint such issues. Can we expect Karan Johar to shed the glam quotient and make such a film? Probably not - look what he did with KANK and My Name is Khan? Serious issues; sugarcoated. And the west is no different. Slumdog Millionaire is hardly a true depiction for the slums in India. Mahafail, Danny Boyle. But you can be sure, other filmmakers will continue to do so. And sadly, we need to recognize them for their courage. They know the film will probably not make waves or rake in heaps at the box office. And yet, they stand by their films hoping it will make a difference in India and will educate the ignorant, motivate the youth and open eyes of those who choose to wear a blindfold to social issues that are blatantly in front of them.

My Favorite Desi Girls!

What is with some Indian women? Why do they feel the need to belittle each other when in fact they basically are, as they say, from the same chakki ka atta? Case in point, the random Anuradha lady on Sony TV's Maa Exchange (basically the American Wife Swap in India). This supremely lucky housewife manages to swap lives with the magnificent Pooja Bedi and all she could do was criticize. On the flip side, Pooja, who found herself stuck in a dirty filthy mess was out to make Anuradha's life easier as she convinced Anuradha's husband to get the lady of the house some help and so on. Anyway, the point is while watching the show, my admiration for Pooja Bedi increased by miles. I've always loved her for her being bold, beautiful, honest and while she stays true to her roots, is still the epitome of the modern Indian woman. And that got me thinking about my favorite Desi women.

First up for sure, it has to be Pooja Bedi. And it's not just after I saw her rock Maa Exchange, but much before that. Bedi hails from one an extremely Bohemian family but for a minute you wouldn't believe it. Down to earth, honest and incredibly beautiful, Pooja Bedi is one heckuva lady. She is easily of one India's most sexiest women and successful in her own way. But besides modelling, anchoring and writing, she also runs a household with two adorable kids (Aalia Bedi, I believe is going to be a fab model in the future) with the utmost precision and dedication. But it's her boldness and courage that is really fantastic. She maintains a civil relationship with her ex-husband (she even turned up happy and filled with joy for his 2nd wedding) which is very rarely seen or even heard of. However, on a more controversial side, she isn't afraid. Pooja was the first model to pose for condoms in the country and even called out Amitabh Bachchan publically after he insisted on scrapping their television interview citing Pooja's "upstaging" as a problem. As a rebuttal, she wrote an open letter to the actor calling him a Big Bully and Big Baby. Rockstar status! Oh, you must read my interview with her for my magazine, you'll love her! Pooja Bedi for Roshni Magazine

Next up has to be my most favorite Indian woman: Sushmita Sen. Besides being supremely intelligent, she is yet another Indian lady who is just not freaking afraid. I love her for being so dangerous. Whether it's her choice to adopt or her choice of relationships, she isn't scared to live life on her terms and for herself. And while her life has hardly been easy, she is not one to shy away or defend her choices. So she doesn't have a rocking career but that doesn't stop her from being the diva that she is. Sexy and hot, but her intelligence is what what gets you. I aspire to be half the woman Sush is; now that would be something.

If I didn't include Koel Purie in this list, I would basically have to shoot myself. Besides being a fantastic actress in my mind, she is also one helluva anchor. Her show, On the Couch with Koel, in my opinion is the by far the best star talk show in the country. Her questions, honest, quirky and daring; the answers, well that depends on the actor in question. However, there have been times the anchor has had to edit out segments at the request of her guest. But what rocks is the fact that you are told about this in her blog which previews the interview. She was one of the only anchors on television who felt the need to go on location and talk to victims and onlookers of the 26/11 Mumbai Terror Attacks. And for that, I salute her. Fabulously awesome and well read, the actress-anchor is a fan of the color red, just like moi. And I've been lucky enough to chat with her too! Check it out: Koel Purie for Roshni Magazine

More recently, I've acquired an incredible amount of love for Mona Singh. You know her as Jassi from Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin, but that role hardly did justice for her. Besides being so pretty despite her tad overweight issue, she is incredibly vivacious, charasmatic and fun! Her smile and spirit really light up the stage especially now on Jhalak Dikhlaja. And that is what rocks most about her; she realizes that she knows her stuff when it comes to television and thus, instead of trying hard to make it in films, she chooses to steer clear and do her thang on the small screen. Now that is a smart smart girl!

I've always always always looked up to Shabana Azmi. The lady oozes confidence and intelligence but not without reason. The actress-spokesperson-activist is never one to mince her words and while it may get her into trouble, she is hardly worried about what people care or say. Whether its her advocacy for the slums or her choice of films, she isn't the least bit bothered about what her critics say. In fact, she is one who happens to never justify her decisions or choices, but really her actions speak louder than words. When she speaks, you can't help but listen and comprehend her reasons. She makes you listen; hard!

Shobhaa De, is one writer whom I simply gravitate towards. Not only do I idolize her for her talents but admire her for her brutal honesty. If it or you suck, she will tell you. A bad film, a terrible performance, a silly comment, whatever it is, beware, Shobhaa will hunt you down. And I love her South Mumbai attitude which she displays with such ease. De is more than happy to show off her elegance courtesy of her South Mumbai upbringing and residency but that doesn't mean that she is unaware of what goes on in the rest of the country. She knows it all. And she calls it out. But that is what sets her ahead of the rest. Whether its her innate outspoken sublime personality or her fabulous sense of style on paper and otherwise, she simply rocks!

Karisma Kapoor has and always will find a fan in me. It isn't just her fabulous style and attitude but her sheer personality that makes me go WOW. Leaving her career at an all time high, she chose to indulge in wifehood and motherhood which she does so gosh darn well. And best part? She still looks like a complete diva. Who would have known she is mother to 2 kids? In addition, she simply shrugs rumors of separation with her husband who I believe is a complete FOOL if he's messing around. Jab ghar mein ho heera, toh phir bahar kyun dhoondhna keera?

And last but not least, an Indian woman I must bow to is my own mother. Where do I begin with her? Beautiful, bold and a no-nonsense kinda gal, my mom happens to be one of the most inspirational women I know because she isn't afraid to call a spade, a spade nor is she scared to stand up for what is wrong. Yes, she does have her quirks but I choose to look past them because she's a dare devil. And there ain't no body like her!

Shabana Azmi: An Indian Legend

A renowned actress, social activist, devoted mother and wife, Azmi proves that you can do it all without losing yourself in the process.

She is a woman who has gone against all odds to create a name for herself among the plethora of highly respected, renowned and popular women in India. The daughter of a popular poet father and versatile ’50s stage actress mother, wife to a top music lyricist, step-mother to a pair of top notch movie directors, she is surrounded by talent, yet attains her own uniqueness. Shabana Azmi, an actress in controversial and mainstream movies, social activist and politician, clearly has an endless list of accomplishments. Azmi has defined the Indian woman and is an inspiration to women globally. She has influenced Indian culture in many ways, generating appreciation and curiosity for a modern and traditional India by joining well-known political associations and working closely with international social organizations which caters to assisting minorities and helpless women. She has been able to voice her opinions, as well as demonstrate her “Indian-ness” as an active citizen and initiate a great amount of interest in South-East Asia.

As a well-known actress, her initial plunge into social work was inevitably seen as a publicity stunt, but Azmi used her name to her —by creating a niche for herself as a social activist who worked from the ground up with a deep-rooted desire to actually make a difference. Locally, she is viewed as a woman with a purpose and direction in her mission as she attempts to shorten the bridge between the rich and poor, educate rural folk on the birth control while creating awareness of the increasing Indian population, and helping women in distress, her list of “things to do” seems endless as she is continually finding a cause to fight for. Among her accomplishments is the relationship she developed with slum dwellers who were denied rights while their huts were being torn down so multimillion-dollar luxury residential buildings could be built. Rather than being a high-strung celebrity, she chose to remain in the trenches and actually lived in the slums for a week. She continued to show her dedication to a struggle she truly believed was worth fighting for by battling against the government and being the voice for those that would not be heard. In representing the people as their advocate, she created enough awareness to eventually force the government to give them their entitled civil liberties as citizens. Her efforts results in over 30,000 new homes for the slum dwellers funded by the local government.

She continued her quest for social activism and after the 1993 Mumbai riots, she became a critic of religious extremism condemning both Muslim and Hindu radicals. This generated heated discussion among both communities as they questioned her religion and citizenship as a Muslim living in modern day India. Despite the questioning eyes, she continued to help the victims of the riots irrespective of race or religion. Eight years later, after the disastrous 9-11 attacks, she was quick to encourage and support the destruction of terrorism worldwide and along with other societal groups insisted on the elimination of terrorism in all forms. Through her various social endeavors, and many accomplishments, TIME Magazine crowned Azmi as an Asian hero, naming her a “crusader for injustice.”

Azmi has demonstrated deep compassion for those affected by the HIV disease. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment is her continuous work with AIDS patients. She produced and acted in a film named “Positive,” which depicted discrimination against AIDS patients as she embraced young victims of the disease who were shunned by society. The activist asked for acceptance and love on behalf of these children. Soon after, she was appointed by the UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) as a Goodwill Ambassador and has given numerous speeches regarding the social discrimination, prevention and awareness of AIDS. She is revered as a saint to the underprivileged in rural areas where the lack of education has left people completely unaware of the epidemic.

Despite all her achievements, she too has had her share of controversies within her acting career. She has always been a part adventurous, diverse and often risqué movies, which in some instances have produced riots and violence among certain extremist groups. Her depiction in the movie “Fire” of a lonely housewife, who falls in love with her neglected sister-in-law, was frowned upon as it focused the normally hush-hush topic of lesbianism in India. She has also made her mark in Hollywood in the critically-acclaimed film “City of Joy,” which addressed various taboo topics such as inter-racial marriages and promiscuity in young girls.

For reasons besides the heated debate surrounding her roles on the silver screen, Azmi has her share of non-fans. Many Muslim and Hindu radicals feel that her ideals are too modern and her constant “flare-ups” are nothing but publicity stunts. In her opinion, the problem is that she “can never keep quiet.” The 58-year-old classic beauty is determined to keep the peace as a Muslim in India as she keeps modern thoughts on her tongue and proudly displays her Indian heritage to the world.“I am a daughter, a wife, a mother, a woman, an actress, an Indian and a Muslim. “Each of those identities is important to me,” she says. Through all her obstacles, Azmi has remained beautiful, poised, and —never being afraid to take a stance and tell it like it is…and we hope she never stops and continues the fight for justice.

Edited by Maya Champaneri

Photo Credit: Nilacharal