Item numbers leading to the sexualisation of children: Shabana Azmi

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Nikki

@touch_of_pink

Sparkler

+ 8

Posted: 10 years ago

Item numbers leading to the sexualisation of children: Shabana

January 25, 2015 Bolly-Freak 2282 reads 3 comments

Veteran actress-social activist Shabana Azmi Sunday said actresses should make "informed" choices on accepting item numbers as such sequences lead to sexualisation of children.

"I am saying let it be an informed decision. I am not going to dictate this is what you should do. But be aware that when you do a song like that it is leading to the sexualisation of children and there are four-year-old girls dancing at all kinds of weddings to really really bad songs.

"So be vigilant of the fact that this is leading to the sexualisation of children and if this is something that you would like to do... make your own choice but make sure it is an informed choice," she said at a special session of the Kolkata Literary Meet here to a query on responsibility of actresses while doing item numbers.

Shabana also batted for "self-regulation" on part of the film industry but also stressed one can't surrender to the moral brigade.

"Self-regulation is very important for the film industry. It is a very thin ice because if you start saying this is wrong... this item number is wrong then tomorrow the moral brigade will say don't wear this... don't do this. You can't surrender to the moral brigade... so whatever comes must come from yourself... ," she added.

CREDITS: IANS

http://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainmenttags/shabana-azmi/item-numbers-leading-sexualisation-children-shabana

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IAmLuvBolly

@IAmLuvBolly

Sparkler

+ 8

Posted: 10 years ago

She has a point. Imagine a 6 or 7 or 9 year old girl dancing and singing Sheila Ki Jawani where the lyrics say I'm so hot I'll love myself. She also brings up a good point in that it's a fine line between being appropriate and letting the moral police censor everything.

I don't know what the solution is. I don't know if there is a simple or one word solution for this. Maybe assign a rating system and expect movie theaters to enforce it. Maybe the responsibility lies with the parents. Is it right to blame the filmmakers or artists for a Sheila or a Munni but not the parents for letting their 5 year old watch these movies? I don't know. Like I said I don't have an answer, none that would satisfy each side. What I do know that I'm very very weary of censorship. I don't like the precedent that will set. You'll never know where the line will be drawn because something will always offend someone.

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RenuHooda

@Hrithiksmile

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

She is doing good work
thumb up for her

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return_to_hades

@return_to_hades

Stunner

+ 6

Posted: 10 years ago

I strongly disagree. A six year old girl dancing to Sheila Ki Jawani doesn't have sensuality or being sexy on her mind. She is just having fun. She doesn't see the sensual aspect of it. She just sees the dance and emulates it with all innocence of a child. If you try to stop her or punish her, she is not going to understand why you are stopping or punishing her. Her mind does not process adult themes and trying to censor her behavior will leave her very confused. Or kids end up increasing that behavior because it gives them attention.

Ideally, children should not be exposed to things inappropriate for their age. However, in today's age kids pickup stuff. It is difficult to completely protect them. If little kids are dancing to Sheila Ki Jawani suggestively. Don't make a big deal. Preserve their innocence. Laugh it off. Make a game or joke out of it. Tell everyone its not a big deal and they should let kids be.

When you censor kids, you actually censor their innocence.

Little Miss Sunshine was a great example of sexualization of kids. Olive who actually does a stripper routine at the end is the most innocent of all the kids. Yet people are shocked at her. It is the other kids in a beauty paegant who are objectified and treated like show pieces. Yet somehow society finds them acceptable. Shows how messed up we are.

http://vimeo.com/93427092

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blue-ice.

@blue-ice.

Achiever

+ 4

Posted: 10 years ago

Originally posted by: return_to_hades
I strongly disagree. A six year old girl dancing to Sheila Ki Jawani doesn't have sensuality or being sexy on her mind. She is just having fun. She doesn't see the sensual aspect of it. She just sees the dance and emulates it with all innocence of a child. If you try to stop her or punish her, she is not going to understand why you are stopping or punishing her. Her mind does not process adult themes and trying to censor her behavior will leave her very confused. Or kids end up increasing that behavior because it gives them attention.

Ideally, children should not be exposed to things inappropriate for their age. However, in today's age kids pickup stuff. It is difficult to completely protect them. If little kids are dancing to Sheila Ki Jawani suggestively. Don't make a big deal. Preserve their innocence. Laugh it off. Make a game or joke out of it. Tell everyone its not a big deal and they should let kids be.

When you censor kids, you actually censor their innocence.

Little Miss Sunshine was a great example of sexualization of kids. Olive who actually does a stripper routine at the end is the most innocent of all the kids. Yet people are shocked at her. It is the other kids in a beauty paegant who are objectified and treated like show pieces. Yet somehow society finds them acceptable. Shows how messed up we are.

http://vimeo.com/93427092

+1...and anyone who gets a sensual or a dirty feeling seeing a 6 year old dance is a pervert in the first place and shouldn't be around kids in the first place...

I hate lewd lyrics in any song in general though...got nothing to do with this issue.

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@DB_reloaded

Trailblazer

+ 5

Posted: 10 years ago

True ban these item songs.. Spoiling the Indian culture

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Hetal

@ibelieveinpink

Inactive

+ 5

Posted: 10 years ago

I don't think at that age understand sexuality but it's up to the parents to censor what they want to and what they don't. I don't think the entertainment as a responsiblity jsut b/c it gets hazy on what you can and can't show in the name of artistic freedom.

As for item songs. I say stop objectifying women as a piece of meat. I thought Helen back in the day used to do amazing dance routines like Oh Hasena Zulfa Wali and things like that--classy yet sexy. Why can't we have a nice balance like that instead of Pinky, Munni, Oh La la, etc.

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fivestars

@fivestars

Sparkler

Posted: 10 years ago

but why is she opening up now?? these item numbers r not new in Bollywood...Helen,bindu are legends/veterans in doing item songs..

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AllBlacks1

@AllBlacks1

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

Shut up Shabana... go kiss Obama.. since Mandela is no more.

Or kiss the tits of another woman in a movie.

Freaking holier than thou... vella celebs.

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AllBlacks1

@AllBlacks1

Sparkler

+ 2

Posted: 10 years ago

#10

Originally posted by: fivestars
but why is she opening up now?? these item numbers r not new in Bollywood...Helen,bindu are legends/veterans in doing item songs..

Ghar pe rotiya paka ke bore ho gayi hai. Thoda attention to chahiye na.