New Delhi:
South Indian Director SS Rajamouli has been given the credit of raising an Indian movie above standards with his magnum opus ‘Baahubali’.
Doing justice with all his characters, he has been able to give an epic to Indian audience, however, the portrayal of Avanthika (Tamannah) as an object of desire raises serious doubts over a director’s capability.
It is not that Rajamouli has done the same with his other female characters. Both Sivagami (Ramya) and Devsena (Anushka Shetty) have been given strong characters but why Tamannah was ‘feminised’ by a male protagonist, will hover on our minds forever!
She is shown as a rebel warrior who is incensed by actions and symbols of love (when Prabhas paints tattoo on her body), but gives away once shown her feminine side in a sheet of water.
But Mr Rajamouli even though a female is passionate in the arms of her lover, still she cannot be ‘forced’ to understand the importance of true self. It is sexist and bigoted.
The ‘sexist’ scene in a story, which is rich with mythological references, has the potential to gain legitimacy among more viewers. It may also leave a deep impact on the audience as an ugly, unintelligent and un-entertaining film.
In the scene, Avanthika is enraged after meeting Prabhas face to face as she feels that he is trying to distract her patriotism.
What happens next is unbelievable as a series of sexual encounters follows between Prabhas and Tamannah. She is grabbed, pushed, pulled and stripped. Her clothes are torn apart to transform her into a more ‘feminine’ damsel. Her lips are reddened with natural dye and crushed berries are applied to the lines of her eyes making her resemble a goddess. After seeing her beautiful image in water, she quivers coyly in the lover’s arms before their dance continues.
And, finally that is the end of a warrior-cum-woman who is tamed by the man who loves her. Is that it? A female’s adventurous journey ends as soon as a man comes in her life. Is love another form of control and dominance? The sequence proves the ongoing debate in India- a relationship bounds a woman to do only what her partner feels right about!
Well, that is a very sorry state and a 70mm portrayal worsens the situation.
Hope you understand that this is one thing you got entirely wrong in a very beautiful movie Mr Rajamouli.
