How Bollywood now defines the drunk, abusive woman giving a blow job sexy

I am seeking answers to some questions: Why would you call a film Mardaani when it is about a woman cop and deals with the trafficking of little girls? Or why does a sexy woman in a Dirty Picture need to die pining for a husband with  her "sindhoor" screaming at us? And why do we have to be shown drunk, giving blow jobs, abusing profusely to be seen as the new sexy woman? And if a man did the same things would he be seen as Dabangg? And why….? Okay so I think you know that these aren't really questions at all.  They are expressions of dismay of what is being put out there in the name of cinema and in particular "woman centric" cinema.

To be fair the medium itself has a bias. Cinema as a medium is male. Storytelling in film tends to follow the "Hero's Journey" and women characters are rarely advantaged. And if you could, in a Woody Allenesque manner, make your way through the screen and onto a film set, you will discover a testosterone haven. Film sets are feudal, hierarchical and usually ruled by men. We have "light boys" turning lights according to what the (almost always male) cinematographer would like who in turn is holding onto a camera that is panning, tracking-in, zooming out, and going in close.  Behind that cinematographer is the director (also almost always male) playing out his knowledge and experience of women. And under the arc lights stands a beautiful woman, with make up and costume fulfilling every fantasy of the makers and watchers.

Back in a movie theatre we see these pictures played out, their flickering imprints reflected on mesmerised faces, girl's gazing and being gazed at. The shadow and light transforming women's bodies and sexuality into a new larger than life entity. Cinema is hyperbolic even in its most "real" form but it's the choice of characteristics that are chosen that tend to determine how we feel in the end. Female audiences adapt by either making the male characters the ones they identify with, learning to be like these women or suspending belief. Still I haven't met women who doesn't at least every now and then feel badly about how they are projected in Indian cinema. And increasingly some men too are feeling this way.

Anyway feelings aside - as you know in a world where money has to be made this must be the case.  And we do live in a country where respect for women is scant. Plus the force of film supports this viewpoint vehemently. So how can one expect anything to change?  Should we stop being party poopers and just along for the "lovely" ride?

Well maybe not.  There's the video No Country For Women on YouTube that somewhat summarises the situation. And there was that episode of Satyamev Jayate where Aamir Khan apologised for objectifying women in cinema and pointed out how the Indian Film Industry does this all the time. These are sweet sounds so far but the volume of these opinions within the film industry need to go up.

Makers and writers of films in India should stop for one solemn moment and recognise that films do effect how men treat women in India. The bonus could be that in showing respect perhaps it can be learnt and earned.  And if that seems like a long shot, then lets take the shortcut and get more women behind the camera, that's a rock that will bring down many a doddering dodo.