Lust Stories (Hindi, 2018)
There used to a time in history, it still exists in many fringes societies, where people just take their respective places lying down. The people who benefit from such an arrangement would provide justification of this set-up to a decree so old predating human civilisation. God's name would be dropped for good measure. Fear would be instilled to shirkers. Not wanting to upset the order of Nature and fear of retribution in the afterlife, many just toe the line. Others, on the wrong end of the bargain, accept it as a probable punishment for their past actions in a previous birth!
Snap out of it. In this new world, it is all about the individual. One lives and does things for himself, not for the world, not for the community, not for familial expectations. It is about self-fulfilment, living a full life for oneself. Is it self-indulgence? Is it hedonism? One is given one life, only one, cherish it. It is now or never. Or is it?
The members of the Indian diaspora are undergoing changes by leaps and bound. With increasing opportunities in education, access to information and media, the bearers of the extra X chromosomes want more. They are no more merely contented staying behind the scenes, seen but unheard, becoming child-bearing vessels and playing second fiddle. They want to be heard. They feel they have been shortchanged all this while. They can perform at par if not better than their other half.
This collection of stories brags of prominent directors and bold tales about subjects which were considered taboo and often swept under the carpet, female sexuality and the sacrosanct status given to sex.
Four stories are told from the female perspective. A young married lecturer becomes ballistic when she discovers that her student (at university with whom she is having an affair) is two-timing her with someone of his age. Even though the lecturer insists that her relationship is based on lust and the journey to explore one's self. Finally, the viewers realise that it all about control. Love has nothing to do with it.
The second offering shows a middle class 'good son' who has no qualms about having regular trysts with his female domestic helper but obediently agrees to marry a girl arranged by his parents; no questions asked. The helper, although hurt, continues life as if nothing happens. She knows her place in society.
An unhappy mother of two has an affair with her old university mate. The mate also happens to be her husband's confidante, who is in a betwixt and between situation. The husband sounds suicidal on the phone, and his wife wants the affair to be known to him. And all three of them an embarrassing meltdown at the mate's beach house.
The final offering questions the role of a wife in the dynamics of the family. Is she there just to ensure continuity of the clan or is she entitled to her own pleasures and should be left to her own devices (pun understandable only after the film)? The modern Indian woman, with her independence, wants out. She cannot be playing dance-monkey to the whims and fancies to her in-laws who act like outlaws, setting rules as they felt fit.
A bold presentation to showcase the modern Indian women who had enough being treated as a second-class citizen in a predominantly misogynistic society. They have risen to correct the status quo.
Snap out of it. In this new world, it is all about the individual. One lives and does things for himself, not for the world, not for the community, not for familial expectations. It is about self-fulfilment, living a full life for oneself. Is it self-indulgence? Is it hedonism? One is given one life, only one, cherish it. It is now or never. Or is it?
The members of the Indian diaspora are undergoing changes by leaps and bound. With increasing opportunities in education, access to information and media, the bearers of the extra X chromosomes want more. They are no more merely contented staying behind the scenes, seen but unheard, becoming child-bearing vessels and playing second fiddle. They want to be heard. They feel they have been shortchanged all this while. They can perform at par if not better than their other half.
This collection of stories brags of prominent directors and bold tales about subjects which were considered taboo and often swept under the carpet, female sexuality and the sacrosanct status given to sex.
Four stories are told from the female perspective. A young married lecturer becomes ballistic when she discovers that her student (at university with whom she is having an affair) is two-timing her with someone of his age. Even though the lecturer insists that her relationship is based on lust and the journey to explore one's self. Finally, the viewers realise that it all about control. Love has nothing to do with it.
The second offering shows a middle class 'good son' who has no qualms about having regular trysts with his female domestic helper but obediently agrees to marry a girl arranged by his parents; no questions asked. The helper, although hurt, continues life as if nothing happens. She knows her place in society.
An unhappy mother of two has an affair with her old university mate. The mate also happens to be her husband's confidante, who is in a betwixt and between situation. The husband sounds suicidal on the phone, and his wife wants the affair to be known to him. And all three of them an embarrassing meltdown at the mate's beach house.
The final offering questions the role of a wife in the dynamics of the family. Is she there just to ensure continuity of the clan or is she entitled to her own pleasures and should be left to her own devices (pun understandable only after the film)? The modern Indian woman, with her independence, wants out. She cannot be playing dance-monkey to the whims and fancies to her in-laws who act like outlaws, setting rules as they felt fit.
A bold presentation to showcase the modern Indian women who had enough being treated as a second-class citizen in a predominantly misogynistic society. They have risen to correct the status quo.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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