Mockery of Religion in Films? DT Note: Pg10 - Page 2

I currently am a DT member of Saubhagyavati Bhava, which once rivaled DkDM as the #1 show on LifeOK. There is one thing about that serial that rubs me the wrong way, and actually had me reported to my own DT when I pointed it out.

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

I currently am a DT member of Saubhagyavati Bhava, which once rivaled DkDM as the #1 show on LifeOK. There is one thing about that serial that rubs me the wrong way, and actually had me reported to my own DT when I pointed it out.

The story essentially was themed around domestic violence - a girl named Jhanvi is tormented by her husband Viraj for months, gets raped by him, becomes pregnant and loses her child when he beats her in her pregnant condition. After that point, she, along w/ her MIL, makes good her escape, but her car crashes, & her MIL is killed. W/ the help of Viraj's doctor who revealed to them that he had an OCPD disorder, she faked her death, fled to another city under an assumed name Sia, and found another guy (the other lead of the serial), whose name is Raghav. He sheltered her, and her husband secretly discovered her whereabouts and stalked her. Several months later, she told Raghav about it, and after a whole series of convoluted events, Viraj was exposed, arrested and sent to jail. She applied for a divorce, and in today's episode, finally got it.

Now, since his name is Raghav, and her (assumed) name is Sia, the serial casts their relationship as a Rama-Sita relationship. I support her getting a divorce from her husband and marrying Raghav, but I've had a real beef w/ this Rama-Sita theme to their romance, since the parallels b/w them are just not there. I once pointed out that if Jhanvi/Sia was Sita, then logically, that would make her husband Viraj Rama, not Raghav, and I was reported to my DT for equating Rama to a rapist 🤢 Somehow, not many recognize how odious the comparison is, even putting aside the fact that Jhanvi is nothing compared to Sita, nor is Raghav to Rama. But whenever the serial shows an action sequence of Raghav, it plays in rap-like notes 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Rama' and has made that almost Raghav's second ID. 🤢

Aside from that, I agree w/ Varaali's views on this. I don't watch movies, but yeah, they'd be a lot less fast & loose w/ mocking religions other than Hindu. I disagree w/ her a bit on Christianity, since throughout the West, the DaVinci Chronicles were freely shown, and all that Christian groups did were to appeal to their flock to boycott it, which is a perfectly legitimate appeal. In India, that movie was banned only in a few states, making India the only country to go any length against an anti-Christian movie.

But yeah, either mock ALL religions, or mock NONE.

Anisha..!! Excellent discussion topic.!

Well.. If you people are not aware of our Mollywood, to your knowledge, B town mockeries and satires are far far better than those made in our Mollywood movies.

All the recent comedy crackers in Malayalam films will have some mockeries (if it is just a situational comedy, let it be..we can just avoid it or ignore). But they refer to our great epics and characters wherever a double meaning comedy is required. And the craziest thing is that we, the Malayalees always encourage such attempts and whoever questions it are considered as barbarians, uncivilized, non secular etc.

Almost all comedy shows on Tv, even for school cultural meets, there will be at least 2-3 mockeries of Ravana abducting Sita, Draupadi's vasthrakshepa, Shakuntala-Dushyant story, Nala Damayanti story etc. They call it as modern Ramayan, Mahabharat-everything just for fun.

The most shameful episode I found was in a highest TRP earning comedy show in a leading Mal channel where Draupadi's vasthrakshepa episode was mocked. When Dushasan got tired, Draupadi was replaced by Shakeela-enacted by men (a B-grade actress popular in South) where she undressed herself and flung her saree to Dushasan's face.

Also there was a scene in one of the super hit movies of 90s where Menaka, Urvashi, Rambha and Thilottama came to earth to disturb Vishwamithra. And all the four went back cursing him (as if he is not a man). Then Silk Smitha (enacted by men) came to seduce him and finally he gets disturbed only to have some hip-hip/disco model dance with her.

But we, the Malayalees will only be proud of such innovations..!!! 😵

Originally posted by: varaali

Good Topic. Actually I am not an avid movie watcher so I can't give appropriate (or inappropriate, should I say) examples from films but I do dislike the flippant and cavalier way in which rituals and religion is used in serials. Most of them are blatantly wrong and inaccurate, but the public seems to lap it up. Sad.

But there is one thing I would like to say - Producers and directors will think a thousand times before using , say, Muslim or Christian religious symbols in such a careless or irreverent manner

Well said Varaali. I wrote this initially but edited since I feared it would mean any offense directly or indirectly.
The film makers will never dare to mock any episode of something related to the Muslims/Xtians. But for Hindus, it is a public latrine. Anyone can come and do whatever distortions he would like. and the majority Hindus will be the first to support it..!!

SahasranamaM

Originally posted by: .Vrish.

SahasranamaM

Maybe their next step could be Draupadi disrobing Dushashan, Duryondhan and encouraging them to perform in that court... If everything else is okay, why not this?

Do they also have skits making fun of Islamic figures? I'd certainly like to see them try out that one, given everything that's happened elsewhere in the world.

Not only with Islam, but also with Xtians. None will dare to do. 2 years before in our state, a school teacher was attacked for posting some question in a school public exam which directly or indirectly hinders the belief of Xtian community.


@ Please watch this video from starting till 1:34. It is a comedy scene from a superhit 90s Malayalam movie Mimics Parade (where Silk Smita seduces Vishwamitra). This is only a half portion of the skit. Starting 2 minutes is not in this video. But I don't want to post another video here just to display their innovation..! To be frank, it is a good movie of the 90s which offered us hell lot of situations to laugh. But can't forgive this for the sake of it..!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQdiIOzBa1E

Also, among the youth, there is a code word called 'Bhakthakuchela'. It simply means a video cassette or CD for a blue/x-rated/po*n film.
It is because, those days when VHS cassettes were in common, they used to write the name as 'Bhakthakuchela' inorder to prevent themselves from raid and other issues. This was shown in 2-3 movies of those days. It became so popular and still it is under practice for the youth to call such movies under the name 'Bhakthakuchela'.

Another thing i noticed.in some old hindi movies,i have always heard people blaming Sita and Draupadi for the wars.All these dialogues are male chauvinistic and are against women.These people didn't even spare Godesses and blamed them for the Ramayana and Mahabharatha war.I remember one such dialogue,"Aurat ke chakkar mein mat pad.In aurato ke wajah se ho toh Ramayan aur Mahabharat yudh hue."That was disgusting.

To add more...Most of the films, especially in Malayalam will have a dialogue about someone who romances more than 1 lady. "He is a Krishna'. Krishna is almost a synonym for Casanova. And whichever film, the hero is romancing or entangled between more than 1 lover, the next immediate song would be his appearance in Krishna's attire with all his lovers as Gopikas.

I remember in one film, similar to what I posted before, a video cassette shop owner is blasted by the customer claiming that the movie which I took home yesterday 'Sreekrishnaleela' wasn't a devotional film, instead it was a pure blue film. Then the video shop assistant comments "Oh..Sreekrishnaleela alle..apo ithiri neela kalarnnalonnum kuzhappam illa" means " 'Afterall, it is Sreekrishnaleela..so wouldn't mind if something blue gets mixed'.

Also, most of the stories in a college background will have a group performing a devotional classic dance which will be welcomed by a big group booing, whereby the dance group will immediately transform to a western dance in the same costumes. This happens mostly for Krishna-Radha stories.

Down I am posting some videos taken from Malayalam movies.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VbptyMX47M

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvklXt-iNFA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L74-Sf25iGg

Originally posted by: ritika06

Another thing i noticed.in some old hindi movies,i have always heard people blaming Sita and Draupadi for the wars.All these dialogues are male chauvinistic and are against women.These people didn't even spare Godesses and blamed them for the Ramayana and Mahabharatha war.I remember one such dialogue,"Aurat ke chakkar mein mat pad.In aurato ke wajah se ho toh Ramayan aur Mahabharat yudh hue."That was disgusting.

I always knew that men hate Draupadi and blame her for the mahabharata war but i was shocked even Sita is blamed for the Ramayan war.

Yes. It's correct. That's exactly the MCP nature that bursts out..!!

However, most of the filmy dialogues which I mentioned were for comedy/satire only. Even though I said I can't forgive for the sake of that, I am forced to do the same when some critically acclaimed movies come up with the same attitude. Compared to them, the comedy film makers should feel less guilt as they don't have much bad intentions.

Why I say so is that last year a Malayalam movie called 'Pranayam' (love) was released. Starring Mohanlal, Jayaprada and Anupam Kher. Mohanlal is Jayaprada's husband and Anupam Kher is her old husband (now a widower). She meets her old husband during the old age and even Mohanlal is aware of that. He supports it since he is on wheel chair now. However both families have problems from the side of their grown up sons and daughters.

Once Jayaprada and her daughter were having arguments about the issue. The daughter says " It's not fair from your side to do such things at this age. I am married, I have my husband. We nee to face the society and answer their questions".

Daughter: Mother, I am ashamed that you are like Panchali now..!
Jayaprada is shocked..!! As if her daughter called addressed her by the name of the local wh**e..! Here eyes filled with tears, says: "Do you know to whom you are blabbering such words? I am your mother..How dare someone call her own mother as Panchali..?? "
Daughter turns here face as if she called the right word.." Then what should I call a lady who is in need of 2 men?"
Jayaprada starts weeping and run towards Mohanlal..
Jayaprada: Did you hear what she called me..? she called me Panchaali.."
Mohanlal's face gets stunned as if his daughter challenged his fertility..!!

What more..? The family got separated and the daughter left them some after an argument of 2 more minutes. And we must be proud that it started off with calling her by the name of Panchali.

Sad to say that this movie was written and directed by Blessy, strictly one among the best directors South Indian cinema has ever produced. And the movie included actors of a life time.. like Mohanlal, Jayaprada and Anupam Kher..