Amid Peddi row, Kangana Ranaut says the lens of movies have long been harsh to women
Amid the ongoing Peddi controversy over the portrayal of women, actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has weighed in on the hypersexualisation debate. While acknowledging that the film
Amid the ongoing Peddi controversy over the portrayal of women, actor-politician Kangana Ranaut has weighed in on the hypersexualisation debate. While acknowledging that the film industry's portrayal of women has often been problematic, she said the lens through which movies have viewed women has long been harsh and unfair. In an exclusive conversation with India Today, Kangana was asked why mainstream cinema continues to rely on hyper-sexualised female characters at a time when actors are increasingly demanding stronger and more layered roles. Read Full Story In response to the question, Kangana argued that objectification is not limited to cinema. "Women are objectified even if you go to a local train. So, to say that in movies they are objectified is such a wrong thing to say. If you go to a local train, the pushing, punching, even a local bus for that matter.
It happens on the road also. So, anyway, it has nothing to do with movies," she said. At the same time, Kangana acknowledged that cinema has often been unfair in its portrayal of women. "But yes, the lens of movies has been very harsh to women. Whether it is item songs like sexy-sexy mujhe log bole, whether Sarkailo Khatia, all those things." She added, "But the line sometimes between seduction, vulgarity, and that complete injustice to women kind gets blurred, knowingly or sometimes unknowingly. So, I think such is the nature of entertainment." Kangana also said that while criticism and course correction are sometimes necessary, the current culture of online outrage can often become excessive. โThis kind of correction is needed, and at times it is too much trolling and prejudice. Because even sensuality is a part of art.
And sexuality is also a depiction of a story. And the film industry is not your education subject, you are coming here for entertainment," she said. The actor stressed that not every portrayal should be judged without first understanding the larger narrative context. โI am saying at large, I sometimes feel that today also we are in a place where the trolling of anything or everything is just so ruthless. We don't ask what exactly it is, what is the subject? Maybe that subject is grey, maybe that whole setup has some relevance to the plot. Without any of that, there is just trolling, trolling, trolling. So, even that is not good," she added. Kangana's remarks come amid the ongoing controversy surrounding Peddi, starring Ram Charan and Janhvi Kapoor. The film has drawn criticism from a section of viewers over its portrayal of Achiyyamma, Janhvi's character.
