Angry birds!

Angry Indian Goddesses (2015)

Writer, Director: Pan Nalin

The first thing you wonder about in this nearly all-female cast movie is why everybody is so angry. This is a feminist film, but everybody is popping like sesame seeds on hot oil in a wok. They never seem at peace despite their relatively comfortable living status, high educational levels, self-confidence and jobs.

A group of six old school friends get together for a bachelorette party before one of them marries. The host, Freida's, helper is the other person at the party. Frieda is a frustrated fashion photographer who feels her talent is unappreciated by the lay public. Mad, a singer-songwriter, has hit writer's block. Su, a single mum and a fiery businesswoman, is vigorously pushing her team to develop a particular land. Pammy, who used to be an excellent student, is now a frustrated housewife who regrets a life that could have been. Jo, an Anglo-Indian, is an aspiring actress only hired for her physical attributes, not her talent. Lakshmi, the helper, had seen her cousin murdered before her eyes. Nargis is an activist. Her work with the tribal people brought her to a head-on-head clash with Su.

Freida initially refuses to reveal the groom's identity, but it is plain to the viewers. Freida and Nargis were to get wed when it was illegal in India.

The film continues with the characters whining about each others' predicament and disappointment with overt emotional displays and hugging each other as if hugging solves everything. Jo is gang-raped and killed, exposing the patriarchal view of society.

As in most Indian movies, empowered women are always portrayed as combative and loud, ready to shoot anybody who even dares to raise discontent against them. They dress in the skimpiest clothing and flirt openly but are prepared to pounce when the other party responds accordingly. They accuse the public of stereotyping them and looking at them with jaundiced eyes.

Have the members of the fairer sex been burdened with such heavy responsibilities that they cannot carry them? Has the load taken away the accommodating motherly vibes they used to exude?

Feminist films repeatedly remind us of the raging blood-thirsty combative image of Kaali and call for the female gender to rise to demand their rights. But glaringly, they forget the remind us of the gentle and nurturing Gauri or the pleasant demure of Laxmi or Sarasvati.

This film had a brush with the Censor Board. From the getgo, the opening credits, which depicted various Hindu Goddesses, the Board insisted that the images of Goddesses had to be blurred.

The title sequence that the Censor Board did not want the public in India to see.

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Passed its sell-by date?

Contestants: Vartika Singh (India), Mohana Prabha (Singapore),

Mehr Elieser (Panama), Priya Serrao (Australia), 
Shweta Sekhon (Malaysia).

The female members of the clan were ecstatic to learn that they possibly shared the same forefathers of five of finalists who have been shortlisted at the 2019 Miss Universe contest. I did not want to be a spoilsport to dampen the spirit of achievement; they had no role at all. If anything, it only shows their hypocrisy.

On one end, they want to be assessed on their mental ability and tenacity. They feel slighted when referred to as the weaker sex or given leeway for under achievements. They would like to believe that their successes in life were purely via merit, not by merely being the fairer sex. They raise their gaze when the female gender is condescended upon or depicted in a negative light.

But it is quite puzzling that the parading of scantily clad females like livestock raises no concern at all to them. Sure, intellectual capacity, wit, personality and social consciousness all are tested to pick the fairest of them all. Physical attributes must surely give the window of opportunity for other subsequent successes to follow soon.

Have we not seen enough instances of how beauty queens being puppets of businesses and government acting under the guise of being a brand ambassador for a novel cause?

Ms Reita Faria, Ms World 1966.

Offhand, the story of Asia's first Ms World contestant and the 1966 winner comes to mind. Reita Faria, then a 23-year-old medical student from Bombay, went on to win the crown. (Note: Ms World and Ms Universe are different events). Her problems started after that. As part of her contract, she had to appear for the organisers, Mecca. She had to accompany Bob Hope to entertain GIs in the Vietnam War. As India opposed the Vietnam War, her passport was impounded by her Government, and she was stuck in the UK for a year, unable to continue her medical studies. Her happy ending came about when she secured a place in King's College to continue her studies. She now resides in Ireland married to her mentor in 1971 and moved to Dublin.

Many years later, in an interview, Dr Reita Faria Powell opined that beauty pageants had probably passed their shelf life. She thinks that there is no more a fairy tale ending.

Have you noticed that over the years how the selection of finalists is overtly biased toward the turn of events in the world political arena? And more contestants from the developing countries seem to capture the limelight. Probably that is where the target audience is and where the sponsors want to tap their resources from. Maybe their counterparts in the first world are over with burning bras and have nothing more to prove. They are more than mere eye candies or trophy toys to demand recognition. Points to ponder.

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The many worlds of Captain Marvel?

Captain Marvel (2019)

The ancient Greeks believed in re-births. They used to think that before birth, the memory of the yet-to-be-born infant is erased clean. All old thoughts of their last birth are wiped out, like a white sheet of cloth. After birth, the young mind observes, learns and re-'minds' itself of 'new' things. In a way, nothing is new but are old tricks, packaged to be re-programmed. 

This is what that went through my mind as Carol Danvers struggle to find herself. With so many recurring thoughts, dreams and nightmares tormenting her all the time, the search for self-discovery proved to be a Herculean task. It is made worse with the multitude of contradictory inputs that are channelled through her senses. For Carol Danvers to come to terms that she is indeed Captain Marvel, it must be pretty confusing. For ardent followers of Marvel comics, they must surely be knowing that before this, many other characters have been trying to claim their stakes on being the real Captain Marvel. As we recalled in another post, Shazam!  used to Captain Marvel at one stage but he had to relinquish his title after a legal tussle. Danvers was once Ms Marvel, and another Captain Marvel was there who died. Even Yon-Ragg was the Captain in one edition of the comic!

Most of the newly churned movies, be it superheroes' movies or any other regular ones, there is a concerted effort to subtly change the fabric of society. If members of Gen-X and Babyboomer generations were used to have blockbuster movies with white male actors taking lead roles in them, now they have to familiarise themselves with members of the minority class and the previously unempowered to lead. Of late, many box-office films have a lead female cast; male characters are portrayed as redundant, shallow and can be disposed of. Not all viewers are receptive to this deliberate shoving of current agendas down their throats by the big establishments. 

Nevertheless, the radical social reforms by the Trotskyite are being recognised at the grassroots level. There is massive pushback. Recently it was shown that @RottenTomatoes was 'mass nuking' audience reviews of the abysmally rated 'Captain Marvel' in order to juice its audience rating. It apparently nuked up 47,000 reviews over the weekend to bump the score by 6%. 

Capt. America & Capt. Marvel

Maybe it was portraying Captain Marvel a big no-no with comic fans. As it is, of late, members of the 'subaltern' sect of the community have been represented as superheroes (Wonder Woman and Black Panther). Do we need another? And to have Gwen Stefani's 'I'm just a girl' playing in the music score to drive home the point?

I also could not help but entertain the thought that Captain Marvel's fatigue has an uncanny resemblance to that of Captain America. It is no brainer to guess the choice of colour as this Hollywood blockbuster stream rolls through to the four corners of the world. Perhaps, now that Thanos had virtually crippled the Avengers team and put the Universe in limbo in his quest for the Infinity Stones, the Marvel Comic Universe has to respond. Guess who will save the day in the 'Endgame'?

Only the hardcore would understand!

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Social awareness or agitation?

Period. End of a Sentence (Documentary; 2018)

Arunachalam Muruganantham was seen in a TedTalk a few years ago with his low-cost locally made sanitary napkins and how he tried to make a change in the life of the average Indian woman. This is some kind of a showcase of what actually happens at the ground level - getting the ladies to express their issues about this social taboo, making them feel comfortable discussing this physiological phenomenon, to remove the stigma associated with its discussion, discussing the health risks related to their current unsanitary menstrual practices and promoting their homegrown self-generating pad making simple machine with local produce. 

At the end of this 20-minute documentary, the women are happy. The promoters are satisfied to have infiltrated into the sanitary business, creating a demand for something not there before. The users feel empowered for being able to control their body, to avoid embarrassment associated with menstruation. For the first time in their life, they had their voices being heard. This could the start of many steps towards woman empowerment. After all, society has long accepted that women maketh society.

Economist Muhamad Yunus, the Nobel Prize winner from Bangladesh, understood the role of women in the community when he came up with the idea of setting up his successful village-centric Grameen Bank.

But wait!

Isn't it funny that, at the time when the Supreme Court decision and the palpable public dissatisfaction over the lifting of the ban of the entrance of women of reproductive age to Sabarimala Temple, that a documentary about menstruation and ladies of India receives an Academy award? Is it a smear campaign to put the ruling party (which is pro-Hindu in its stand) and Hinduism in a bad light? Is it an anarchist or the leftist agenda to create mayhem and irreligiosity?

[N.B. Interesting title. Period as full stop which ends a sentence and the ending the sentencing of social restrictions imposed upon menstruating women]

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Love moves mountains?

Christiane Amanpour: Sex and Love Around the World
(Netflix Documentary, Season 1; 2018)

This provocative six-episodes presentation discusses matter considered taboo in many of the towns the episodes were centred - Tokyo, Delhi, Beirut, Berlin, Accra and Shanghai.

If one were to look at olden civilisations, it seems evident that our ancestors used to quite accepting of sexual practices and its deviations. The Japanese, during the Edo period, boasts of Shunga erotic art. They were a liberal and stable society. All that came to zilch when Commodore Perry landed in Edo Bay and Emperor Meiji banned their erotic drawings. 

The Indians had Kamasutra long before the Western world learned to count, but in the New World, it was viewed as yellow literature. The Victorian mindset even deemed donning of saree was obscene. In the 19th century and before, the blouse was not part of the female attire. The saree was used to drape the chest and bosom as well. Legends say that the Tagore ladies were denied entry to a Colonial Masters' dinner as they were apparently indecently dressed for not draping their upper torso and the upper limbs. The long sleeved became the colonists' addition to the Indian costume. 

The Westerners. with the might of their sea fleets and the strength of their gunpowder, thought that they were doing a service to the natives by introducing them to culture and religion. Little did they realise that even the Dark Continent, Africa, has a long oral tradition of Africana philosophy. It may be as old as humanity itself. They lived in symbiosis with the spirits of Nature.

The Arabic civilisation also had their own appreciation of sexuality and erotica. 'The Perfumed Garden', a manual for sexual maladies and health, is a testimony of their maturity.

The spread of Western civilisation and specific strict Abrahamic teaching seem to jettison the equilibrium of sex and love in the country explored in this season.

The Japanese society, despite their boldness in expressing their sexual desires and pervasions, remains a sexless society. Their population growth is down, and people are just not finding pleasures in each other. Couples do not communicate, and sex outside marriage is a norm for both genders. Maybe it is because we all living in a self-fulfilling generation which is hedonistic in self-gratification rather than completing other priorities in life. What are the priorities in life anyway and who decides them? 
After playing second fiddle the Japanese men in society, the Japanese women have started exerting their likes and dislikes through their newfound liberation through education and economic independence. They could choose to be a 'fujoshi' (rotten girl) if they want to.

India too, after having a liberal society before the Westerners brought in laws to impose values on them, have awoken from slumber. With educational opportunities and the empowerment of the minorities and the marginalised, the downtrodden have returned with a vengeance. Nothing is taboo anymore. The society is undergoing an adjustment period where eve-teasing is construed as sexual harassment, transgenderism is accepted, hijras (third gender) demand a safe space in the community and public display of affection is becoming acceptable. Even a former porn star, Sunny Leone, is accepted to mainstream movie industries. In spite of these changes, resistance still comes from many conservative groups who scream of the immorality and demand for clear demarcations of what is permitted and what is not. Worse yet, they run vigilante groups to carry out their brand of justice.

Inhabitants of Beirut, despite living in strong fears of civil unrests, try to live life to its fullest. The famous saying goes, "to be an Arab is to be a hypocrite!" The Arab world which portrays a seemingly conservative outlook has the dubious reputation of being the highest consumer of porn. In Beirut, many girls in traditional garb are seen smoking the hookah and having a time of their lives. It appears that Palestine refugees who came to the country in the 60s try to exert their brand of religion to the rest of the population. Religion gained more importance in society as government became dictatorial and corrupt. In 'The Perfumed Garden', sexuality was described as a gift from God and equal weight is given to both sexes for enjoyment. It has, however, has taken a turn and is viewed as something to satisfy the male gender only. On the other hand, the rest of society is fighting back. 

Berlin is known as the carnal capital of Europe for it was here, back in 1919, that the first sexual experiment institute was established. It used to be a sexually progressive city till clashing opinions from the likes of Hitler and immigrants with conservative views on sex changed in its landscape. Hitler reignited the 3K (Kinder, Küche, Kirche) concept; that women's role is to mind the children, kitchen and the church- at least to increase the population and to supply soldiers. Nevertheless, the culture of FKK (free body culture) is still alive. There are establishments where clothing is optional as its members carry on with their recreation activities in the nude to boost self-confidence and to break body dysmorphic misconceptions. Some newcomers (refugees) who have assimilated into the German society find it liberating. For the first time in their lives, there discover real love, self-expression and are able to come out of the cocoon of living a false life for the sake of society and being trapped in sugar-coated relationships.

Accra in Ghana is said to be the most religious place on Earth, with its 71 Christian sects and its many churches. Despite its seemingly religious outlook, many Ghanaians live with multiple sexual partners; having a wife, mistress and girlfriends all at once is the norm. Come Sunday, they would all flock to the churches and listen to the sermons which put women in their place of being the temptress of vice and root of decadence. The female gender is accused of being weak and are easily swayed to the dark side,  of tempting of Satan. The fault of the original sin which is the reason mankind has to suffer is put squarely on the ladies. Women, because of the cultural tradition of sexual servitude, accept the accusation willingly. Perhaps the changing of times created a balance between Men trying to maintain honour as well respect versus Women trying to get love and security. Affluence accentuates the need for polyamory. Christianity is blamed to have done a disservice to the Africans' way of life. Before the entry of European to the continent, they already had a well placed social order. Now, many are reclaiming their ancient roots.

In China, conformity used to be the opiate of the masses. Marriage was a family affair with so full of traditions, but the State had a lot of say in it. Now, under the new brand of communism where elements of capitalism are infused, self-expression, love streaming and individualism are taking over. Candidates for marriage are advertised by parents for their seemingly 'growing old' children (anyone more than 27 years of age) like commodities in the marriage market in Shanghai. Many highly educated young adults have their own idea of the life partner they want - by height, educational status, age and even gender. Yes, people are openly exhibiting their sexuality in the open. They are pushing the boundaries. They claim that the Chinese Culture used to be so accommodating but somehow now the Chinese have decided to follow the Western way which tries to label everything and box everything into categories.

The clash of one culture over the other with practitioners of one culture aping the other is probably the reason for the disturbance of the status quo. But surely this must be the purpose of our civilisation; making every small leap every time for the advancement of the race and for the greater good of humanity. The feeling of guilt that most organised religion propagates must be the cause of many to be mentally disturbed, and people are finding ways to be relieved from it all. 

Sunny Leone, Bollywood sensation.
It is alright to bring an ex-porn star to the
living room during family prime time!
Credit: Human Nation.

Nature had given the act of propagation and continuity of species the added lure of pleasure to entice its members to copulate and spread their progeny. Somehow, modern man has mastered the art of separating the fun from its reproductive function. They are so entrenched in their hedonistic desires that their bar of attainment is becoming ever unreachable. They venture into seeking comfort in the same kind and against the grain of Nature. 

Is the society easing to the ever-growing demands of the fairer sex for equality and social justice? Is this a construct of neo-liberalism? Is the market for queer rights a western export? Is people's view on sex and love matters so schizophrenic? They want the enjoyment part of sex and love but not pregnancy and venereal ailments part of it. 
Science has shown that for a population to continue to prosper, a certain level of population growth is mandatory. Economic activities need people. Wars need soldiers. For the rich to flaunt, they need a populous area with the poor to suck from. With the sexless society and declining fertility, is this how our civilisation ends? Is this what the Vedic scriptures say when they tell about destruction and rebuilding is a cycle when a society crumbles, goes into near-annihilation and recoup like ants who had their anthill smashed?

As my friend, AS, a Trump supporting, QAnon following, conspiratory theorist yearning, Deep State and cabal loathing right-wing conservative friend would say, "it is all a left wing agenda to destroy the civil society that humanity has slowly put in place over generations of trial-and-error. Anarchy is their end point.

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The dilemma of a King?

Lost Loves (Arshia Sattar; 2011)

Exploring Rama's Anguish

The question is whether the so-called divine scriptures are indeed infallible sacred decree or just mere guides for humanity to use as a precursor the complete the building block of life. Is it really God's orders or is it the human interpretation of what is best for mankind?

If the holy texts are indeed supreme, can it be deliberated or argued? We, the human race, used to live at a time when avenues were open for debates. Paradoxically, at this time and age when literacy is at its highest peak since the beginning of history, these doors are precariously shut. No place for questioning!

Are the powers that be hiding something?

I had always been under the impression that a King by the name of Rama as a human in flesh and blood, did actually walk on Earth. His subjects were have been awed by the dramas that revolved around the royal family. Their actions and decisions must have been closely watched by his citizens and be awed. Human beings always look at role models to follow. In those days, with the absence of Kim Kardashian and Kanye  West to set the precedence, the royalties must have been the trendsetters. With a little bit of exaggeration here and a little glorification there, Rama, his consort and his brothers must have attained demigod status, if not Supreme God Himself.

I found this book quite refreshing. Written by an articulate Muslim author whom I had the chance to listen to at the Georgetown Literary Festival, she had earlier been involved in the translation the whole of Valmiki's Ramayana from Sanskrit to English.

The thing is whether to consider Rama as a reincarnation of God when he made all His life and royal decisions or did he make them as a mere mortal, as a ruler?  

The author looks at the what can be construed as Rama's imperfections. One controversy is the slaying of a Sudra ascetic, Shambukha, for masquerading as a Brahmin. The seeming brutal beheading of a man standing on his head is justified as his karma to be slain by the Lord Himself. Others criticise it pure caste consciousness.


The deceitful slaying of Vali, the Monkey King, when Rama wanted an army from Sugriva is questioned. Perhaps, Rama feels that Vali's usurping of Sagrivi's kingdom and wife was immoral. But then, it may have wrong for Rama to take sides and kill Vali when he was vulnerable when he was caught unawares, being garlanded. The truth of the matter may be different, and perhaps Rama was using Ayodhya's social mores to judge inhabitants of Kishkindha, the Varana (monkey) kingdom.

Ayodhya, Kishkindha and Ravana's Asoka garden in Lanka had different standards for women. In Ayodhya, the fairer sex is expected to be demure and bashful. In Kishkindha, however, wife swapping is an acceptable practice. In the demonic world of Lanka, open display and promiscuity were enjoyed.

Sita is viewed as a pitiful victim at the hands of Rama. Imagine being swept off her feet at the prospect of being married to the future King, only to be out-manoeuvred by a conniving young step mother-in-law at the last moment just before the coronation. Then being banished to the jungles for 14 years. The sojourn in the forest was no walk in the park too. Kidnapped by an evil king, only to be rescued much later, life afterwards was no better. Through no fault of hers, Sita is taken away but, she gets the impression that she was accused of having a whale of time partying. She has to prove her chastity to shut the gossiping mouths. Of all the persons, even her husband cannot stand by her but decide the satisfy the people's evil tongue. It is as though she is made the scapegoat to proof Rama's mantle as a just ruler. 

It also appears inhumane that Rama should banish his pregnant wife to the woods just because of the evil words of a dhoby and his unfaithful wife. It is a bad example to have the princes grew up in the wilderness without knowing their father.  Is that what a father should do? Did Rama fail to perform his dharma as a father figure?

Arshia Sattar
Credit: Flickr

Mutilation of Surpanakha, Ravana's sister, of cutting off her breasts and her nose, is an overkill - all because of her promiscuity towards a married man. If Rama were God, would He not seen her real intentions of wanting Ravana to be killed or that it would be the road to His misery. 

Perhaps, Rama was just a man, trying to do the best thing as a ruler; not to be swayed by the lure of the flesh as his father, Dasaratha, was - crumbling to the charms of his younger wife, Kaikeyi, Dasharata had to go back on his word on the throne. Was this why Rama was so cold towards his wife? Maybe Rama loved his wife, if his constant display of Sita's figurine during essential functions, in her absence, is any proof.

If Rama was sent off to live the jungle to live as an ascetic, why is depicted with weapons and continued to consume meat? And he continued to display his sorcery in jungle politics.

There are many regional addendums to the Valmiki's Ramayana. Uttara Kanda and Bala Kanda are examples of such scriptures. Philosophical discourses on these texts only show that answers in life are not so black or white. It often manifests in varying shades of grey.

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