Anuradha Dev's Blog
July 2, 2024
Chamkila Vs Animal
Chamkila vs Animal
By Anuradha Dev
What has changed in thirty-six years?
Last December, I was the first in line to judge the people who were part of the movie Animal, especially Sanjeev Reddy Vanga. How can a filmmaker be so irresponsible? How can he make a violent, misogynistic and crude man a hero, a man all the young boys want to be like? I'd heard the numbers the movie was doing, and just on principle, I didn't watch it. I didn't want to add a number to the statistics. I know how laughable it is, but honestly, I didn't even want to watch the movie after hearing so much noise around it. Also, I made it my mission to discourage others, especially the teenagers I had acquaintances with, from watching the movie. Not that they listened to me. After all, teenagers are infamous for doing precisely what they're told not to do. Not their fault.
I'm a writer myself, but I am a reader first. I've been reading romances longer than I've been reading the reviews, and I am surprised by how many of my favourites in the past have been ripped apart by the reviewers. Coleen Hoover, who used to be my automatic buy, is accused of romanticizing domestic abuse; Penelope Douglas, who wrote the unputdownable 'The Bully' glorifies toxic relationships, and Julia Quinn, with her swoony Bridgeton series, mocked the concept of male consent in the most problematic way. Wtf! I was thoroughly entertained when I read those books a few years back.
When I read romance, I want to be in the shoes of the heroine, who the hero sweeps away through flirtatious banter and a mind-blowing body. I know how politically incorrect this statement is, but the fact remains that the heart wants what it wants.
My unwise, unwoke, and uncivilized heart wants to be treated to sexist and naughty repartee between the leads. However, interestingly, this preference remains only in my reading. In real life, I wouldn't give time of the day to an openly sexist guy. But aren't these romance books with toxic heroes high on the bestseller lists? Maybe because we want a better society, all the antisocial tendencies we are born with as humans,need an outlet. Humans are imperfect, so why couldn't entertainment be?
There is some truth in the allegation that it's tough to be a creative person today. There is an extreme dearth of tolerance and people will tear down someone's creative piece into shreds without mercy. Artists must have exceptionally thick skin to express themselves as they want.
The movies Animal and Amar Singh Chamkila remind me of my reading preferences because Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Chamkila are immensely popular artists for the masses, who are also judged brutally by the classes. As Chamkila said, 'Duniya mein chote log zyada hote hai', the classes should let the artists cater to the masses and not try to dictate what entertainment an adult should consume.
Chamkila's songs talked about women and sex in the most scandalous ways. No relationship was sacred, and no metaphor was far-fetched. He revelled in shocking people into laughter. His strength was his uninhibited language. Chamkila's life might not have been too scandalous, but he never shied away from writing sexily about any relationship under the sun. His popularity could be a study of basic human nature, that deep down is attracted to whatever is taboo, much like teenagers. Truthfully, humans never grow up. The basic instinct always remains the same; some classy people keep it under wraps, but most people(Chote Log) relish the idea of what isn't allowed.
Why would boys clap at Ranbir's illogical rants about periods, making Tripti Dimtri lick his shoes, and shooting in the school? Maybe deep down, they want to do the same to someone, and they know they shouldn't. Storytelling is all about relating to the audience. If a story connects with the audience on some level, it has all the right to be told. And people like me, who have a problem with it, should stay away.
On one hand I agree with Jawed Akhtar when he says it’s a cause for concern when men celebrate insulting women and putting them in their place, but targeting the creator is the easy solution. He’s only making what he knows audience wants. He’s reflecting the society we’re living in which is misogynistic and patriarchal. Despite all the changes since the times when Chamkila lived and the times of Vanga, most men will always secretly think of all women as sex objects and want to establish their superiority on them. What did killing Chamkila accomplish? Did men learn their lesson? Did people stop listening to his songs. He’s still the most popular singer of Punjab.
After years of observing social media, I consider myself a woke consumer of entertainment. A person who likes to watch content that delivers a relevant message to society. A message that would make the world a better place. But I also remember when I loved reading romances about protagonists with perfect bodies and incessant banter because I enjoyed being part of the story. This doesn't mean I wanted to be in a relationship in which I was fighting all the time. No! God forbid! Doesn't the fact that what we like to watch or read for entertainment and what we do in real life don't match at all count for an argument favouring freedom of creativity?
Watching Chamkila trying to please the bullies of society and still ultimately dying at their hands made my conscience bleed for him. I felt like a hypocrite later for my stand on 'Animal', much like the reviewers who were all praises for 'Chamkila' but had taken Sandeep Reddy Vanga's movie as a personal attack on themselves. Creative people shouldn't be scared to express themselves. Isn't that the ultimate goal of an artist? Haven't the most acclaimed artists been the ones who never cared about anyone's opinion of their art and created what satisfied them? It's a pity that when an artist has found fearlessness inside them, the keepers of society try to stifle them and then ultimately kill them for being uninhibited. Their motivation might be the cheers and whistles of the masses, but it doesn't take away from these creators' ability to say what they want without fear of judgment. I'll still not watch 'Animal', but watching 'Chamkila' changed me, so I don't judge Vanga for making something he wanted to and people for loving it anymore.
Movies and books have the power to change minds, but that's not their only purpose. Entertainment is high on the list, and nobody has the right to trivialize it. Let filmmakers and adult audiences decide what they want to make and see.
By Anuradha Dev
What has changed in thirty-six years?
Last December, I was the first in line to judge the people who were part of the movie Animal, especially Sanjeev Reddy Vanga. How can a filmmaker be so irresponsible? How can he make a violent, misogynistic and crude man a hero, a man all the young boys want to be like? I'd heard the numbers the movie was doing, and just on principle, I didn't watch it. I didn't want to add a number to the statistics. I know how laughable it is, but honestly, I didn't even want to watch the movie after hearing so much noise around it. Also, I made it my mission to discourage others, especially the teenagers I had acquaintances with, from watching the movie. Not that they listened to me. After all, teenagers are infamous for doing precisely what they're told not to do. Not their fault.
I'm a writer myself, but I am a reader first. I've been reading romances longer than I've been reading the reviews, and I am surprised by how many of my favourites in the past have been ripped apart by the reviewers. Coleen Hoover, who used to be my automatic buy, is accused of romanticizing domestic abuse; Penelope Douglas, who wrote the unputdownable 'The Bully' glorifies toxic relationships, and Julia Quinn, with her swoony Bridgeton series, mocked the concept of male consent in the most problematic way. Wtf! I was thoroughly entertained when I read those books a few years back.
When I read romance, I want to be in the shoes of the heroine, who the hero sweeps away through flirtatious banter and a mind-blowing body. I know how politically incorrect this statement is, but the fact remains that the heart wants what it wants.
My unwise, unwoke, and uncivilized heart wants to be treated to sexist and naughty repartee between the leads. However, interestingly, this preference remains only in my reading. In real life, I wouldn't give time of the day to an openly sexist guy. But aren't these romance books with toxic heroes high on the bestseller lists? Maybe because we want a better society, all the antisocial tendencies we are born with as humans,need an outlet. Humans are imperfect, so why couldn't entertainment be?
There is some truth in the allegation that it's tough to be a creative person today. There is an extreme dearth of tolerance and people will tear down someone's creative piece into shreds without mercy. Artists must have exceptionally thick skin to express themselves as they want.
The movies Animal and Amar Singh Chamkila remind me of my reading preferences because Sandeep Reddy Vanga and Chamkila are immensely popular artists for the masses, who are also judged brutally by the classes. As Chamkila said, 'Duniya mein chote log zyada hote hai', the classes should let the artists cater to the masses and not try to dictate what entertainment an adult should consume.
Chamkila's songs talked about women and sex in the most scandalous ways. No relationship was sacred, and no metaphor was far-fetched. He revelled in shocking people into laughter. His strength was his uninhibited language. Chamkila's life might not have been too scandalous, but he never shied away from writing sexily about any relationship under the sun. His popularity could be a study of basic human nature, that deep down is attracted to whatever is taboo, much like teenagers. Truthfully, humans never grow up. The basic instinct always remains the same; some classy people keep it under wraps, but most people(Chote Log) relish the idea of what isn't allowed.
Why would boys clap at Ranbir's illogical rants about periods, making Tripti Dimtri lick his shoes, and shooting in the school? Maybe deep down, they want to do the same to someone, and they know they shouldn't. Storytelling is all about relating to the audience. If a story connects with the audience on some level, it has all the right to be told. And people like me, who have a problem with it, should stay away.
On one hand I agree with Jawed Akhtar when he says it’s a cause for concern when men celebrate insulting women and putting them in their place, but targeting the creator is the easy solution. He’s only making what he knows audience wants. He’s reflecting the society we’re living in which is misogynistic and patriarchal. Despite all the changes since the times when Chamkila lived and the times of Vanga, most men will always secretly think of all women as sex objects and want to establish their superiority on them. What did killing Chamkila accomplish? Did men learn their lesson? Did people stop listening to his songs. He’s still the most popular singer of Punjab.
After years of observing social media, I consider myself a woke consumer of entertainment. A person who likes to watch content that delivers a relevant message to society. A message that would make the world a better place. But I also remember when I loved reading romances about protagonists with perfect bodies and incessant banter because I enjoyed being part of the story. This doesn't mean I wanted to be in a relationship in which I was fighting all the time. No! God forbid! Doesn't the fact that what we like to watch or read for entertainment and what we do in real life don't match at all count for an argument favouring freedom of creativity?
Watching Chamkila trying to please the bullies of society and still ultimately dying at their hands made my conscience bleed for him. I felt like a hypocrite later for my stand on 'Animal', much like the reviewers who were all praises for 'Chamkila' but had taken Sandeep Reddy Vanga's movie as a personal attack on themselves. Creative people shouldn't be scared to express themselves. Isn't that the ultimate goal of an artist? Haven't the most acclaimed artists been the ones who never cared about anyone's opinion of their art and created what satisfied them? It's a pity that when an artist has found fearlessness inside them, the keepers of society try to stifle them and then ultimately kill them for being uninhibited. Their motivation might be the cheers and whistles of the masses, but it doesn't take away from these creators' ability to say what they want without fear of judgment. I'll still not watch 'Animal', but watching 'Chamkila' changed me, so I don't judge Vanga for making something he wanted to and people for loving it anymore.
Movies and books have the power to change minds, but that's not their only purpose. Entertainment is high on the list, and nobody has the right to trivialize it. Let filmmakers and adult audiences decide what they want to make and see.
May 4, 2023
Lorelie Myth
This post is about parenting and for Gilmore Girls fans (Spoilers alert).
Was Lorelie a perfect parent?
Ever since I watched Gilmore Girls, I have encountered many teenagers online and in real life who wish their parents were like Lorelie.
And it's understandable as she is young, cool and treats her daughter like a friend, not a kid. She even eats burgers and fries for a meal regularly. She is independent and hard-working and expects the same from her daughter.
Agreed she could have been a role model for mothers like me, but what disturbed me most was how she reacted when Rory wanted to quit college because she found it challenging. I know giving up is not a good option, one should persist, but it's easier said than done. And persistence should come from within the doer, not the parent. The parent's job is to show the kids the right way and let them decide. Not to threaten them into doing what they want. And if they don't, should you abandon them? Stop talking to them? Evict them out of their lives? Is it even possible to ever end a relationship between a parent and a child? And a parent doing that just because their child is not acting like the perfect version of themselves created in their mind is selfish and apathetic. They are supposed to chase their own dreams not their parents’.
Think about it; everyone wants to be loved unconditionally. But in the real world, people are loved for their looks, talent, ability to succeed, give and provide, sense of humour, amiability, and for just being silent. Shouldn't there be at least two people throughout their lives who would love you no matter what?
I know It's an idealistic view and is possible only in a perfect world. That's why punishing kids by estrangement is so common in this world.
Parenting is a job taken far too seriously than it ought to be. Parents feel they must do something every time their child does something unacceptable. But I have learned that only when you give them control of their lives will they make better choices, or else they know who to blame when anything they do backfires.
True that a twenty-year-old deciding to quit college is a matter of concern for parents, but not talking to them and abandoning them when they need you the most can never be the right decision in any situation.
They'll come around, just as Rory did. Just give them time and your unconditional love.
Was Lorelie a perfect parent?
Ever since I watched Gilmore Girls, I have encountered many teenagers online and in real life who wish their parents were like Lorelie.
And it's understandable as she is young, cool and treats her daughter like a friend, not a kid. She even eats burgers and fries for a meal regularly. She is independent and hard-working and expects the same from her daughter.
Agreed she could have been a role model for mothers like me, but what disturbed me most was how she reacted when Rory wanted to quit college because she found it challenging. I know giving up is not a good option, one should persist, but it's easier said than done. And persistence should come from within the doer, not the parent. The parent's job is to show the kids the right way and let them decide. Not to threaten them into doing what they want. And if they don't, should you abandon them? Stop talking to them? Evict them out of their lives? Is it even possible to ever end a relationship between a parent and a child? And a parent doing that just because their child is not acting like the perfect version of themselves created in their mind is selfish and apathetic. They are supposed to chase their own dreams not their parents’.
Think about it; everyone wants to be loved unconditionally. But in the real world, people are loved for their looks, talent, ability to succeed, give and provide, sense of humour, amiability, and for just being silent. Shouldn't there be at least two people throughout their lives who would love you no matter what?
I know It's an idealistic view and is possible only in a perfect world. That's why punishing kids by estrangement is so common in this world.
Parenting is a job taken far too seriously than it ought to be. Parents feel they must do something every time their child does something unacceptable. But I have learned that only when you give them control of their lives will they make better choices, or else they know who to blame when anything they do backfires.
True that a twenty-year-old deciding to quit college is a matter of concern for parents, but not talking to them and abandoning them when they need you the most can never be the right decision in any situation.
They'll come around, just as Rory did. Just give them time and your unconditional love.
March 26, 2023
Hello Life
Hello life
I was never the star.
Not even of my own yarn.
Those wild adventures
Were my imagination
Never an anecdote of mine.
Those brutal fights
I overheard or resolved
Never touched my shrine.
Those passionate romances
I lived vicariously through
Never broke out of the printed confine.
Those texts I read
With flush and dread
Were someone else’s clueless jive.
Maybe I could have
Slopped enough to
Slip a few inches into the slime.
Maybe I could have been
Bold enough to
Land some punches in my mind.
Maybe I could have
Sported a few rejections
After giving it all to the grind.
Maybe I could have
Taken the plunge into the sky
And let gravity keep me in the line.
Hello Life,
Can I get a re-ride?
With all with bumps and steep slides.
A life lived and gratifying.
I was never the star.
Not even of my own yarn.
Those wild adventures
Were my imagination
Never an anecdote of mine.
Those brutal fights
I overheard or resolved
Never touched my shrine.
Those passionate romances
I lived vicariously through
Never broke out of the printed confine.
Those texts I read
With flush and dread
Were someone else’s clueless jive.
Maybe I could have
Slopped enough to
Slip a few inches into the slime.
Maybe I could have been
Bold enough to
Land some punches in my mind.
Maybe I could have
Sported a few rejections
After giving it all to the grind.
Maybe I could have
Taken the plunge into the sky
And let gravity keep me in the line.
Hello Life,
Can I get a re-ride?
With all with bumps and steep slides.
A life lived and gratifying.
