Spoilers ahead…
If you’ve seen the noisy trailer for Suraaj’s Kaththi Sandai, you’ll know the question isn’t whether the film is any good but how bad it is on a 1 to 10 scale – “1” being “as long as you have a smartphone to otherwise occupy you, it’s harmless enough” and “10” being “you want to yank the stylus off your smartphone, jab it in your jugular, run towards the screen in slow motion, and mask it with your arterial blood so that no one else has to suffer.” Kaththi Sandai is a 6. A few jokes by Soori hit home. He plays a don named Deva, but Arjun (Vishal) gets to the heart of what he’s really about: “Nambiar maadhiri meesai vechukittu Nagesh maadhiri iruppaane…”
Arjun falls for Divya (Tamannaah) and sends Deva to her as his messenger. She slaps Deva, and this makes Arjun very happy. He’s convinced she is a “fresh piece” – had she been in love with anyone else, she wouldn’t have reacted this way. (Don’t ask me to explain the logic. I’m just reporting from the war front.) There are many references to Vishal being dark-complexioned and Tamannaah being fair. I guess when there’s no other USP, you resort to the most obvious things. Arjun tells Divya they were lovers in a previous life. She scoffs. But her professor – Chinni Jayanth, taking an Abnormal Psychology class – tells her that she should take this up as a project and investigate. She does. She falls in love with Arjun even after she discovers he’s been lying. Because: “Ellaa love-layum oru poi irukkum. Aana un poyyila oru love irukku.” My hand began to inch towards the stylus.
The nicest thing about Kaththi Sandai is that it keeps us guessing about Arjun and his motives. And when you think back, it’s actually a heart-warming triumph-of-the-common-man story. (There’s a nice line about how we have been reduced to “buying” essentials like education while “products” like mixers and grinders are given to us free.) But Suraaj isn’t interested in telling that story – or any story. He just wants to keep distracting you with songs and fights and comedy. Vadivelu shows up in the second half as a psychiatrist. He strides towards us to the strains of Neruppu da, and he declares, “I am back.” It’s the biggest build-up ever for a track that yields not a single laugh. A far better joke is that the plot revolves around stacks of 500s and 1000s. The characters on screen see this as crores of money. The audience sees worthless scraps of paper.
KEY:
- kaththi sandai = sword fight
- “Nambiar maadhiri meesai vechukittu Nagesh maadhiri iruppaane…” = be grateful I am not translating this for you
- “Ellaa love-layum oru poi irukkum. Aana un poyyila oru love irukku.” = be even more grateful I am not translating this for you
- Neruppu da = see here
An edited version of this piece can be found here. Copyright ©2016 The Hindu. This article may not be reproduced in its entirety without permission. A link to this URL, instead, would be appreciated.
Baradwaj Rangan 
harish ram
December 23, 2016
Genuine question: why do you use still a stylus smartphone?
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Vijay Nandakumar
December 23, 2016
LOL BR. After a long time a review that had me in splits!!! Feel sad for you that you have to watch these kind of movies as part of your profession. Then again, you went knowing it is a Suraaj film!!! This is “Own Money Black Magic”- This one you can translate I guess 🙂
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Anuja Chandramouli
December 23, 2016
“Fresh piece” ???? Hand me that stylus will ya? And point me in the direction of that Suraaj and Vishal… Believe me, there will be blood! “Fresh piece” Excuse me, think I’ll go throw up now.
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kart03ik
December 23, 2016
Why and more importantly how does suraaj make movies? Who is funding this guy and how do A- list stars like dhanush get on board with him? This is mystery warranting some investigative journalism. And our censor board should be asked to explain how ‘ fresh piece ‘ is okay but ‘ ungalukku (beep) pidikuma illai ( beep) pidikuma ‘ is not and needs to be beeped?
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Anu Warrier
December 24, 2016
Standing in line behind Anuja to borrow the stylus and mop up the blood
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Kay
December 24, 2016
Why do the heroines even accept these roles? Somewhere they should draw the line, shouldn’t they?
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praneshp
December 24, 2016
@Kay:
//giphy.com/embed/l0HlIvLpzz624GAUM?html5=true
via GIPHY
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Honest Raj (formerly 'V'enkatesh)
December 24, 2016
Soori vs Vadivelu – Really sad state of affairs. 😦
A far better joke is that the plot revolves around stacks of 500s and 1000s.
Watch out for Sathuranga Vettai – 2. 🙂
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Kay
December 26, 2016
Suraj has dropped to heretofore unknown low. Pained to read and further listen to the actual interview in which he says heroines are paid to dress glamourously and make ‘low class’ audience happy. I actually gave him the benefit of doubt and replayed the video repeatedly to make sure the audio has not been fudged.
http://www.sify.com/movies/we-are-not-strippers-mr-suraj-nayanthara-lashes-out-news-tamil-qm0oSIeggfdjd.html
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Honest Raj (formerly 'V'enkatesh)
December 26, 2016
Kay: A famous Tamil filmmaker once said, “If I intend to do prostitution, I’d be the prostitute myself”.
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Anuja Chandramouli
December 26, 2016
Hey people! So check out this link:
http://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/Tamannaah-lashes-out-at-her-Kathi-Sandai-director/article16945439.ece
Suraaj expounds at length on his execrable notions about portraying glamour on screen! What was heartening though is how Tamannaah and Nayanthara called him out at once for being a boorish pig. About time! I always wondered why our lovely leading ladies don’t object to how they are objectified and reduced to ‘items’, ‘fresh pieces’ etc.
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pato
December 26, 2016
what suraaj said is what most masala movie directors think.it is just that suraaj said that loudly.While many wonder how suraaj gets producer for his movies,just check out opening weekend collection of kaththi sandai.it is greater than most of the movies that rangan mentioned in his best-of-2016 list.We get what we deserve.
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Anisha
December 26, 2016
Pleasantly surprised that leading mainstream heroines lashed out at Suraj’s views, but the issue here is the misogyny and the crassness of most of the heroines in Tamil films. Just watch the Kaththi Sandai trailer, and you get a shot of Tamannaah’s legs first when her “character” is introduced.
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MANK
December 26, 2016
Honest Raj, remember that dude thangar bachan and those good old times😃
http://am-kicking.blogspot.com/2005/11/kushboo-md-vs-thangar-bachan-mla.html?m=1
Anuja, but the actresses aren’t complaining about their portrayal in movies, but just the director for saying it loud.
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Srinivas R
December 26, 2016
As much as I like the fact that Tamana has called out Suraj, I take a dim view of actors who willingly allow themselves to be part of crass objectification in the name of entertainment. These are established, successful actors, if it had been a newbie, may be I would have sympathized. This just comes across as hypocrisy
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Honest Raj (formerly 'V'enkatesh)
December 27, 2016
MANK: I was actually referring to a different thing.
http://contrarianworld.blogspot.in/2014/02/balu-mahendra-artist-plagiarist-and.html
Re post: It is slightly misleading (and factually incorrect). I’m not sure if the Thangar Bachan controversy had anything to do with it. IIRC, Khushboo said something on the lines of: ‘Tamil boys shouldn’t expect virgin brides’.
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Anuja Chandramouli
December 27, 2016
MANK: You are right. I am getting the bad feeling that Tamannaah’s PR person must have told her to capitalize on the fact that it is currently fashionable to be a feminist. I mean it worked for Deepika Padukone (till she went for overkill with the godawful ‘It’s my choice’ Homi Adajania’ claptrap), Sonam Kapoor, Anoushka Sharma, Shruti Haasan and most recently, Kangana Ranaut (who may or may not have played the feminist card to garner sympathy and goodwill for himself at the expense of her super star alleged ex.). And as Kay pointed out why do our top heroines even accept such roles in films made by Suraaj and the rest of his ilk? It is not like they are hard up for dough or anything….
Srinivasan R: Guess I agree with you. It does smack of hypocrisy given that both are established stars. Remember a young Sridevi in the famous Ilaiyaraja track (illamai ennum poongatru or something)? Or in 16 Vayathinile where she was made to lift her paavadai to ford the stream? I also seem to remember an interview which Meena had given to filmfare where she revealed that she was asked to choose between a kissing scene and a topless scene in Avvai Shanmughi and she went with the latter because she was allowed to wear a bra and petticoat. She was very matter of fact about it and said she was so upset about having lost out on a chance to work with KH, in Thevar Magan, that she would do anything to work with him. All I can say is UGH!
It is really sad when filmmaker’s exploit a young starlet’s desperation to cater to the far from salubrious needs of horny frontbenchers and assorted perverts. But it is worse when people irrespective of their gender willingly make the choice to sacrifice their dignity for money or anything else. I’ll admit that I am getting a nosebleed from the high horse, I seem to be sitting on, but it galls me a bit that top heroines who I admit have no obligation to inspire impressionable youngsters who worship them or pass on a worthy message seem perfectly content to endorse fairness creams, and zero – fat digestive biscuits or play the simpering glamour doll provided they get to take home a big, fat cheque or cheap publicity.
Anu Warrior: Lol! Some times these repulsive jerks bring out my inner neanderthal and to paraphrase Marsellus Wallace from Pulp Fiction, I want to go medieval on their worthless backsides (with a blowtorch).
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Rahini David
December 27, 2016
I am personally fine with directors and producers sign up contract with heroines that says they will wear skimpy revealing clothes in the movies and how much physical intimacy will be needed or allowed. If they want the camera to focus on bits of their physique, then the heroine should be aware of this. It is her body, she gets to decide if she is comfortable with her body being depicted like that. Also, the extent of jokes etc., what one woman finds unacceptable another will not. I am even fine with weight maintenance and flexibility workouts being an inherent part of the deal.
If Tamannaah does not mind being called a “Fresh piece” then I, as a feminist, would
a) want an opportunity to talk her out of it (and)
b) stand by her perfect right to allow the said objectification.
If I had been there I would have during shooting said “Hey! what is all this talk of fresh pieces? Why wasn’t I told that I would have to put up with crass comments about me?” she did not but then again she is not me and I am not her.
1) Suraaj gave her a skirt to wear (Like I am given a laptop by the company)
2) She did not mind the length but it is negotiable (Like I don’t mind getting the laptop, but I sometimes crib about the configurations)
3) She was confident about pulling off the required oomph (Like I am confident about JavaScript)
4) She pulled it off (Like me)
And like me, Tamannaah is no one’s slave. After people (male or female) are done ogling her body parts, she returns to being the person she is, ALL dignity and agency intact. Just because a woman has consented to titillate the multitudes with her sexuality she does not become “lower” than the women who have not titillated the masses nor does she become “lower” than those who found sexual gratification through said mass-titillation.
She is some one who feels hurt. Some one who did not think her boss/manager would make cheap remarks about her. For about 3-4 months they have had a relationship of director and artist. To think that her director felt such crass entitlement about her will be painful for her.
I do agree about the “allow themselves to be part of crass objectification” part. At some point, she should know to say “This movie sounds crass, I am going to get associated with better movies” and I would love her if she did. But if Tamannaah does not mind cheap virginity jokes but objects to the implication that she has NO say in the length of her skirt or depth of her neckline, then I should admit that I know where she is coming from.
Quite frankly, I hate the “I am not a stripper” part. Yes, strippers undress for money. Yes, sex workers have sex for money. What is everybody’s problem with this? Why is everybody permitted to put down strippers and sex workers? Nayan is an actress and not a stripper and I agree that the job description is quite different. So?
Disclaimer: By “everybody” I mean “people who think nothing of ‘I am not a stripper’ comments.” I don’t literally mean “everybody.”
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Bharath Vijayakumar
December 27, 2016
While the tone and content of Suraj’s interview was definitely in bad taste the retort here only proves that the mindset is not much different here either. An excerpt from what Nayanthara is supposed to have said
“Does he think that heroines are strippers who will come and shed their clothes just because they are paid?”
I am pretty sure that strippers would find this statement offensive. This essentially means that what heroines are to Suraj , Strippers are to Nayanthara. Where does women empowerment even find a place in this argument???
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brangan
December 27, 2016
Rahini David: What an extraordinary comment. Was about to write something along similar lines, but would never have managed your clarity. Thank you.
One thing that I find very problematic in these exchanges is the equation of glamorous clothes to something cheap. In the West, if Jennifer Aniston wore nothing but a tie (see link below), they talk of it with a kind of respect, even if it comes with a MILF-y kind of awe.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/aniston-poses-nude-on-gq-cover/
You see the words “nude” or “sexy” or “toned.” You don’t see that horrible word “revealing,” which has such a judgmental ring to it.
It all comes down to the Indian notion that women should be clothed and all “revealing” should be left to strippers and prostitutes. About the judgmental label affixed on the latter two professions, let’s not even get started.
So what Nayanthara said (“we are not strippers”) is, IMO, as judgmental and unthinking and insensitive as what Suraaj said.
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Rahini David
December 27, 2016
Bharath Vijayakumar: << High Five >>
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MANK
December 27, 2016
Rahini, i agree broadly with the point that you are making here. it is her choice and she has the right to do what she feels fit. she is after all a professional in a highly competitive male dominated field and abiding by her professional requirements is part of that.but i disagree with you here
She is some one who feels hurt. Some one who did not think her boss/manager would make cheap remarks about her. For about 3-4 months they have had a relationship of director and artist. To think that her director felt such crass entitlement about her will be painful for her
Now i know that the director may tell her a lot of things to get her in to short skirts and plunging necklines or whatever, but i do believe that she is adult enough to know that the reasons why she is asked to do these sort of stuff is nothing but crass. yes may be she was hurt because he said it loud and she didnt expect it to for the kind of person he was (or he was acting out to be) during the shoot . but i dont think she was naive enough to be outraged by what he said rather than by the fact that he said it.
And i totally agree with you about Nayantara’s comments . perhaps some heroines are really that naive .
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Honest Raj (formerly 'V'enkatesh)
December 27, 2016
Anuja Chandramouli: why do our top heroines even accept such roles in films made by Suraaj and the rest of his ilk?
Of course, you’re aware that it’s these films which helped promote them to the ‘top heroines’ league.
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Anuja Chandramouli
December 27, 2016
Rahini David: “Quite frankly, I hate the “I am not a stripper” part. Yes, strippers undress for money. Yes, sex workers have sex for money. What is everybody’s problem with this? Why is everybody permitted to put down strippers and sex workers? Nayan is an actress and not a stripper and I agree that the job description is quite different. So?” That is a legendary comment. Respect!!
I too had a problem with Nayan’s statement as if strippers are people who automatically deserve to get looked down upon. Ditto for sex workers. Trafficking is an entirely different beast where children and adults are kidnapped, drugged and forced to do things they have not given their consent to. That is called rape and the full might of the law (and hell if there is one) should be brought down on those who perpetrate it. I don’t see why these two very different things get lumped together and tarred with the same brush, which is not doing sex workers or rape victims any favours.
Just want to add a final addendum to your comment Rahini. While I too am fine with folks opting to objectify themselves or whatever (pro choice unto death now and forever), I draw the line at using a situation they willingly entered into to fire up public outrage when it suits them to do so. That is hypocrisy. Suraaj seems to have apologized and it appears to me that the lesson he has learned here is that it is okay to be crass and creepy provided he does so while obeying the Omerta code of the film industry which is what happens in the film industry stays in the film industry and everbody is cool with it, provided he does not discuss the seamier aspects of it on TV.
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Rahini David
December 27, 2016
MANK What is “is adult enough to know that the reasons why she is asked to do these sort of stuff is nothing but crass”?
What is crass? That she is asked to do this because it turns people on? That there is a misogynistic element to “Fresh Piece”?
Yes, Tamannah definitely knows that she is no Savitri in acting and that her body and her color and her willingness to wear certain clothes are what gives her the work oppurtunities that she gets. If at all she claimed that she never knew that I would say she is lying. She is eyecandy and she knows that too. She obviously grooms herself with this knowledge. But there is a DIGNITY in what Tammannah does for her living. That dude’s statement basically is “I don’t care if she hates what she wears/ has to do” and that is a throwback to the days of slavery. Also it reeks of “Acting is great and high” and “Sexual Tittilation is crass and cheap.”
I don’t mind anyone hiring another person to clean their bathroom. I don’t mind anyone hiring another person to cook either. If the salary is very different, it isn’t my business at all. But is it in good taste to say disparaging things about bathroom cleaning in front of him/her? Even in the absense of sanitation staff it is wrong. But within earshot, it is disgusting. Why are humans so crass? so insensitive? so effing inhuman?
Do actresses who act in these movies know that “Fresh Piece” is an insult to the human they are and not a compliment to their virginity? I know several men and women who think unmarried virgins are high and above unmarried non-virgins. So I really don’t know if Tamannah felt cheap or insulted when she saw /heard that dialouge. I would have taken the director/writer/assistants etc aside and given an emotional speech about HOW wrong it is until my voice shook. But I really don’t know what Tamannah felt about it.
There was a time when I have wondered why Kushboo acted in songs like “maanga maanga” and “en kitta bat irukku, un kitta panthu irukku” stuff. I now know. Kushboo was a good sport about those lyrics and saw them as good boob jokes. My idea of a good joke is very different. But I know that we are very different people. What is crass IMO is not crass in Kushboo’s opinion. And it goes without saying, vice versa.
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Kay
December 27, 2016
Rahini: Absolutely agree with your views on Nayan’s comments. I was so angry after watching that video that, I forgot the rest of the article and the implications of her words.
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MANK
December 27, 2016
Rahini , i was going off on what Nayantara said “How can a responsible person from film industry make such a crass and cheap comment? , ( i mistook it for Tamannah’s comment) not necessarily that i believe what she did was crass or not. i know these things are subjective.
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MANK
December 27, 2016
And reg There was a time when I have wondered why Kushboo acted in songs like “maanga maanga” and “en kitta bat irukku, un kitta panthu irukku” stuff. I now know. Kushboo was a good sport about those lyrics and saw them as good boob jokes
I had read an interview with Khushboo were she said that she did a lot of double meaning songs in her earlier part of her career, because she didnt know the language. so that’s also factor in the case of actresses who are coming from outside TN.
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Rahini David
December 27, 2016
MANK: If a woman who dances sexually claims that she should be respected, I’d agree with her. If she claims that the moves weren’t sexual at all, I may not (depends on that individual number, of course). Another person may take the exact opposite view. That sexual dancing is a sin BUT that particular dance was only mildly sensuous. It is all obviously complicated. But honestly, people need to get out of the mindset that sex is dirty, especially the women associated with it.
because she didnt know the language
Very sad. Was there not even ONE friend of hers who told her what the song was about? Such terrible people. 😦
Anuja: I don’t follow filmy gossip and celebrity feuds unless and until it enters the comments of this particular blog and you have given quite a number of examples. No doubt there will be hypocrites that want to ride the waves of feminism when the tide is in. But chauvinists like this director deserve all the fire and brimstone. But there is no question that he did say something objectionable.
And I should say that I completely agree about prostitution. Most of us know too little about what is really happening and what an average sex worker’s life is like to make sweeping generalizations. In this world which fetishizes teenage and virginity, no child is safe. I saw a scene in a movie where a cop tortures a prostitute verbally asking her to explain what she does for a living and obviously her euphemisms for sex work just don’t do for him. She should say it in the RAWEST of terms so he can rub her inferiority (and his superiority) in her face. Though the movie basically seemed to be on HER side, I still did not want to continue watch something that increased my blood pressure. Sex workers and strippers probably have very difficult lives already without this reputation. The very least people can do is watch what they speak.
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Kay
December 27, 2016
MANK: That is one thing I have always wondered about. Wearing glamourous clothes is one thing, but to what extent do they understand what is being said? And even a comment like ‘Fresh piece’ might not be very clear without knowing the context. However, after few movies they should be able to understand the overall idea if not the exact dialogues.
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brangan
December 27, 2016
The heroine wasn’t in the shot when the “fresh piece” bit came. She slaps Soori and walks away. Then Vishal comes in and talks to Soori, says the girl must be a “fresh piece” etc.
But yes, I agree with the larger point that if these heroines are only going to bother about their lines and not with the overall screenplay and how their character is shaped, gets talked about, etc., then they lay themselves open to really shady situations.
If they are okay with this, that’s one thing. If not, they have only themselves to blame. I mean, it shouldn’t be too difficult to get a reading of a screenplay done by someone you trust and knows Tamil and can brief you on the character.
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Sifter
December 27, 2016
@Rahini- That original comment. Bravo! Loved it!
I couldn’t see that article in the link, but seeing the ‘we-are’-not-strippers’ in it made me shake my head at Nayanthara in my mind. One can always call out the nastiness in someone’s comment without saying something nasty about someone else in comparison.
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Iswarya
December 27, 2016
Rahini: The movie you are talking about, I guess, is Onaayum Aatukkuttiyum. If it is, please do watch the movie (that is, if you can trust a sincere recommendation from me). The overall portrayal of that trans woman who does sex work puts the abuse she gets from that police officer in context. In fact, it’s one of the very few movies to treat a sex worker as a fellow human being and not the exotic Other either to be mocked/excoriated (example unnecessary) or simply treated as deus ex machina (as in Thenavattu, etc.)
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Sifter
December 27, 2016
@Rahini- There was a time when I have wondered why Kushboo acted in songs like “maanga maanga” and “en kitta bat irukku, un kitta panthu irukku” stuff. I now know. Kushboo was a good sport about those lyrics and saw them as good boob jokes
Really? Maybe she couldn’t do anything about those lyrics even when she knew their meaning (being young/new/afraid of the established artists/foreign language/fear of speaking out/being naive/realizing a point that she may lose out her filmy future/her stardom/taken advantage/been advised to grin and bear it/etc., etc). Or she was indeed a ‘maanga/thenga sport then.
@Mank- I had read an interview with Kushboo were she said that she did a lot of double meaning songs in her earlier part of her career, because she didnt know the language. so that’s also factor in the case of actresses who are coming from outside TN.
Even if she didn’t know the language, the implicit dance steps, the hand gestures, suggestive expressions, the leer, the body language…these are universal, never mind if they are not from TN
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Rahini David
December 27, 2016
Iswarya: Yes, I think so. Even in the short time I saw it, I could see that only the CHARACTER was an asshole and not the movie. It goes to show that a competent movie maker needs very little time to show his/her stance, give or take a few deliberate cases of quote mining. I was quoting the scene to show how an average person thinks he is high and mighty with respect to sex workers.
The world seems full of movies that I should be sampling and I will remember your recommendation.
Sifter: Yes. The suggestive body language does seem to imply that she could have become suspicious and asked for a translation. I mean it is the FIRST line of the song (maanga). It is still repellent to me that nobody bothered to tell her. Did not even a single human think “Paavam bashai theriyatha ponachea?”
She did say that she vehemently disagreed with a costume in “My dear Marthandan” and said that Prathap Pothen assured her that it would not look vulgar. It did seem that she got convinced by his assurance rather than was forced into it. Anyway, I am not sure. By the time the double entendre songs came about she was reasonably established IMO.
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MANK
December 27, 2016
It is still repellent to me that nobody bothered to tell her. Did not even a single human think “Paavam bashai theriyatha ponachea?”
Rahini, perhaps that was the point of getting these girls . i am sure the director had forbade everyone from discussing such things with her. Also the industry was not that open as it is today and channels of communication were very limited. heroines lead a much more secluded life in her times.. Khushboo might be with her mother or her family – even her ayah or help must be someone from bombay – who are ignorant about the language as her. And being a new girl in the industry,She wouldn’t have any confidants or intimates in the unit whom she can trust.
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KP
December 27, 2016
Dont think the songs mentioned above were in the earlier part of Kushboo’s career.
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Amit Joki
December 27, 2016
Rahini David: One hell of a comment that one! Completely in sync with what I think.
Somehow I think I had a premonition of this ‘fresh piece’ thing when I wrote thus https://baradwajrangan.wordpress.com/2016/10/07/remo-a-charmless-movie-that-puts-effort-into-everything-but-the-script/#comment-66691
By all the discussions going on, I can affirm myself that I wasn’t protesting too much and definitely am not a ‘ultra’ feminist.
Anisha: Tamanna surely would have known by the panning of camera that the shot is covering her legs. If she doesn’t mind, I don’t think we should.
Also this whole thing of actresses condemning Suraaj is unsettlling though pleasant, because they come only after he spoke out his mind. Is it too difficult to know his mind from his actions?
I read on my Twitter feed of a female AD ranting about how she was yelled at by the male director to make the actress show more of the cleavage.
And objectification of women are majorly due to a flaw of Indian cinema in the present state.
It is in itself not a flaw but it’s usage is making me deem it a flaw. Songs. Period.
Such directors make the most of such a song slot and objectify women. I, in my sane mind, cannot be but baffled about how the hero lets his heroine in skimpy clothes to be ogled and even shake their heads in sync with her ‘tumka’.
Example: Thozha. Tamanna is disgusted at the item song, which I found no harm. It served a purpose. But later she shows more skin than that and that’s exploitation in the name of a song. Hypocrisy too for her character.
Often such songs have nothing to add on to the proceedings. They just serve the purpose of having mandatory songs and to objectify when such a director is at the helm.
Of course as I said earlier if the leading ladies don’t mind, there is no reason we should, but I hope they do mind a bit.
Nayan’s comment is also pretty stupid for the reason I mention in my linked comment and Rahini has put an excellent comment on that front.
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Honest Raj (formerly 'V'enkatesh)
December 28, 2016
Amit Joki: Now that your post has been indirectly aimed at me, I’ll add my two cents. You’re conflating two different things. I presume that most of the commenters had called out the ‘fresh piece’ thing mainly because of the following reasons:
It reduces a woman to ‘piece’.
It equates virginity to ‘freshness’.
(1) and (2) are done by a man.
Their arguments are perfectly valid, IMO.
Now coming to yours (in the Remo thread), it is somewhat similar to Khushbhoo’s – that it’s unreasonable for every boy (‘virgin boys’ included) to expect virgin brides.
The concept of ‘virginity’ is not specific to India. In the west, it’s used in the biological context; however in our country, it’s deeply associated with something called ‘culture’. Technically, individuals who’ve had physical relationships with others can no longer be called as virgins. One should have no qualms about it. What I do not subscribe to is the concept of ‘chastity/purity’.
In addition, we live in a country where caste (social status), family background, complexion, money, et al., are considered major components in the institution of marriage.
A while ago on Quora, a girl had anonymously posted an answer to the question: Has anyone regretted rejecting a guy/girl during arrange marriage set up in India? She seemed to have rejected a prospective groom based on the grounds that he was earning less than her, and claimed that she didn’t regret it. Guess what? She was lashed out by many (including a few women) in the comments section. They came up with cliched arguments like, ‘money is not the end of the world’, ‘relationship is all about sacrifice’, ‘love is not just about money’. To me, your argument sounds similar to this.
All that said, I agree, you’re not a ultra feminist. 🙂
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V
December 28, 2016
Let’s not miss the assertive point by Nayan focusing on the stripper part – in the software industry we always hear – Testers: Are we developers to fix issues, Developers: Are we System Admin team to set up the environment, Managers: Are we sales team to win projects etc.
Those are not derogatory statements unless one wants to see them that way. If Nayan were asked to do the make up for all the artistes – her reflex response would have been ” Am i the make up person for this crew?”
As it is misogynistic netizens have brought in her multiple liaisons from the past to slut shame her. If sensible public also starts picking on her for this small misstep – then we’d probably never see any heroine stand up for herself, leave alone others.
PS: Strippers and Prostitutes – are these legal professions in India? Just asking?
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maha
December 28, 2016
No coincidence Suraj is a two time Danush director
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brangan
December 29, 2016
Some kind soul culled out the nasty bits from these reviews 😀
http://www.sweetbucketu.com/2016/12/14-funny-excerpts-from-brangans-tamil.html
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Amit Joki
December 29, 2016
No coincidence that Suraj is a two-time Tamannah director. Oops.
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Anu Warrier
December 29, 2016
Rahini, #respect. That original comment of yours was brilliant.
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Rahini David
December 29, 2016
maha: I just want to point out that we are not demanding an apology or anything like that. We are quietly talking to each other about how we felt when we read something.
Strippers and Prostitutes – are these legal professions in India? Just asking?
I don’t know about strip-tease, but prostitution is illegal in India. Just saying.
Will get back to the rest of that comment in a week or so. Happy new year.
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Uma
December 29, 2016
I watched that interview of Suraj and what was awful than what he said was the interviewers laughing. It is good that Tammana spoke out but what would be even better, especially considering that she has been in the industry for 10 plus years is to not take up such roles that requires no acting. Doing silly movies like these and thinking of it as acting is laughable. Atleast the director is clear that he is only into satisfying male fanatasies.
Didn’t Nazriya Nazeem speak out a few years ago that a body double was used for a scene she didn’t agree to do and was only called a liar by the director. What is unfortunate is that the onus is alway on the woman. Read an interview years ago that Revathy refused to shoot for the Kaala Madu onnu, Karavai madu moonu song but it was filmed eventually. In this male dominated industry, atleast the actresses of the previous generation could act and gave so many memorable performances. These current crop of actresses just have to show up in designer clothes, don’t even have to dub and only care about making money. If they truly want things to change, they could start by refusing to act in dummy loose ponnu
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kart03ik
December 29, 2016
Why is Vishal getting away so easily in all this and why is no one speaking up against him for agreeing to mouth such lousy lines? It’s no excuse for him or anyone else to say they are just following the directors instructions and this does not reflect their views in real life. What’s stopping our leading men from speaking out and saying no to such sexist and tasteless lines. Remember Dhanush saying in an interview that he has sisters and a mother and his on-screen stalking should be viewed in the context of the movie and not emulated in real life. That’s bull f***. He’s basically saying movie makers will depict whatever sells and viewers should use their discretion and avoid being emotionally swayed by a medium which strives especially hard to leave an impression with the viewer . The idea is laughable and reeks of double standards. I doubled over in laughter when his wife said in an interview that both her sons are feminists and she’s a proud mommy. She shouldn’t ever make them watch their dad’s movies then. Anyway all digressions apart , why do our heroines not call out the leading men ever ? There are extremely sexist dialogues which I’ve heard every mainstream hero mouth including Rajini and Kamal. On one hand they all milk the thaikulam stereotype while on the other there is constant judgement about anyone who doesn’t subscribe to the stereotype.
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Nathan
December 30, 2016
He further said with a smirk “Let heroines show their acting abilities in television serials, not in commercial cinema…”
That is scary at so many different levels….
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VKP
January 2, 2017
Amid directors that view their heroines as “items,” it’s heartening to see mainstream South Indian directors like Pa.Ranjith and Alphonse Putheren craft actual important characters for their heroines.
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MANK
January 7, 2017
Apropos to the discussion we were having here
http://www.thehindu.com/society/What-our-boys-learn-from-films/article16998533.ece
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