Cinema medium has always come under criticism for the portrayal of women in films. Of late, the debates were on about films spreading misogyny and violence towards women. Now, three cops in Tamil Nadu have dared to speak about the issue and appealed filmmakers and actors not to encourage sexism.
DCP S Lakshmi (Law and Order, Coimbatore City), SP Ramya Bharathi (Coimbatore District), and DCP Disha Mittal (Law and Order, Tiruppur City) have spoken about misrepresentation of women in films. They tell in unison that the cinema medium has influence on youths and showing women in disrespectful ways is playing a role in rising crime against them.
The video begins with a few examples of misogyny in recent movies. Songs, dialogues and visuals from the movies of Simbu, Dhanush, GV Prakash Kumar and Sivakarthikeyan have been raised to make their point stronger. [Watch the complete video below]
Sending out a message to the film industry, DCP Lakshmi says that we take pride in naming rivers after women and calling the nation as 'Bharath Matha', but women continue to be disrespected.
"Most of the lyrics these days disrespect women in every possible way. Cinema is an influential medium and has huge impact on the people, especially on youth. Hence, it should be used with responsibility. The songs and lyrics degrade women and encourage violence," DCP Lakshmi said.
"People, who write, act and direct the films, should take social responsibility. They should realise that they too have women in their homes in the form of sisters, wives or mothers. Good depictions have the capacity to change the way youth thinks," she added.
SP Ramya Bharathi agrees with Lakshmi and says, "I fully endorse what my counterpart officer DCP Coimbatore has said. This topic is particularly relevant in today's context because film lyrics and dialogues have the greatest devastating impact on the minds of the young today."
"Movies are the greatest influence in today's context and sadly, it has become the major factor in the rise in crimes against women. Movie dialogues and lyrics, be it positive or negative, they mould the thoughts, perceptions and attitudes of young people particularly," she added.
SP Ramya Bharathi further says that they get dozens of complaints of misbehaviour, assault and stalking in a day and many go unreported. "Sadly, in today's context, there's glorification of these demeaning dialogues and derogatory lyrics from these movies which also become runaway hits and blockbusters," she said.
Endorsing the views of her counterparts, DCP Misha Mittal says, "The entertainment industry has a very major role to play in our lives. It is an undisputed fact that the films, music, TV programmes, advertisements, lyrics, dialogues have a very major, profound impact on our mind, on our spirit, on our behaviour, which can both be positive as well as negative."
"The recent increase in crime against women and girls as well as the recent increase in indecent behaviour can to a very large extent be attributed to the exposure that these young minds have to these objectionable movies, the double meaning songs, the dialogues," she added.
She claims, "Without taking any particular names, I've personally come across incidents where delinquents have been almost instigated, inspired by certain movie plots, certain programmes or dialogues, lewd songs which has brought them to the wrong side of law."
The trio conclude by appealing to the film industry to not present women in objectionable way.
