PINK! A thought provoking piece of cinema revisits the much-spoken-often-unattended agenda of ‘violence against women’. A moralistic and unconventional viewing for masses around the world, it was great to note that the Indian film industry is churning out such inspiring and brave scripts. The movie brilliantly plays up the ideology of stereotyping women with every commencing age. The title of the film itself gives you the pivotal idea of the film: Pink, a colour which has to be specifically liked and worn by women, as if it is a certain facet of their existence. Sporadically and cleverly, the director literally hammers and questions the norms, values and preconceived notions attached with women in our society. The movie although is based on three Indian girls, however, it certainly is quite relatable for women ‘surviving’ on their own terms in this and almost every part of the world.
Staying out late, partying and smoking are considered a man’s idea of rejuvenation; however, when such mediums of unwinding are adopted by women – she is subjected to brutal character assassination. PINK, also highlights how a woman’s garb serves as a direct definition of the ‘type’ of woman she is. It beautifully sheds light on the most controversial, yet frequently untapped phenomenon of consensual sexual relationship. It reiterates through its protagonist, the lawyer, essayed by the veteran Mr. Amitabh Bachchan that no one has the ‘right or an authority over a woman’. With strong emotions intact, he spells it out for the audiences: ‘When a woman, be it a sister, a friend, a daughter, a wife or even a sex worker says ‘NO’ it means ‘NO’’.
From a woman’s independence to her affiliation with men and then her choice of profession: all are laid out in contrast with the society’s perspective. The strangulating and infinite barriers, inevitably set for women are nowhere to be found for a man. Just because a woman chooses to crack a joke with you, dresses in a ‘revealing’ outfit or as they say has an ‘eccentric’ sense of fashion should by no means build an assumption or a suggestive hint that it is ‘okay’ to claim your right on her! This piece of cinema leaves several open-ended questions for the society which remain unanswered, and probably several years done the line will still be brushed off. The film does not completely present an all hypocritical image of the society – the tenant, the judge and the lawyer are such liberal figures from the male dominant culture who choose to stick by with the woman.
The antagonist of PINK hails from a fairly influential family; he is the nephew of a well reputed politician. And, hence you see how the legal force brushes the entire scenario under the carpet. The vital figure of this case is a female investigation officer, owing to the strong influence, she fabricates the facts and arrests one of the girls named Meenal Arora in the movie. Meenal Arora, works in a dance company, dresses up elaborately and is an extrovert. Before being arrested, she reaches out to a police officer for help: since the prodigal son has equally incorrigible group of friends, who take this girl’s retaliation as a matter of ego, start threatening her and the tenant. The officer snubs her by explaining how her act of self-defence could call the odds. Before you lose the plot, she breaks a bottle on the antagonist’s head when he molests her during a night-out with her housemates. The entire case scenario is consciously kept under the cover by the director to add the intriguing effect; it is right after the credits that you get to see what really happened.
We often hear people around us saying that a woman is weak, she becomes helpless, indecisive under most scenarios, and she does not have the mettle to make it big. The paradox of our society is amusing in the most berating ways. When at one hand a woman is said to be the most cherished and respect-worthy being, why then on the other hand it is not okay to have a girl child? Why a woman’s apparel is set as a parameter of her dignity, ideology and character? We don’t have an opinion on what a man chooses to don, on the contrary, when you see a woman dressed in jeans let alone any other attire most of us including several women would embarrass you in the following ways:
- The never ending x-ray eyes and their stares which suggest they are mentally….well you know where I am going.
- If you plan to hail a public transport, the ever-so-generous mankind would halt their cars just where you are standing: this gracious support is most common during the late hours.
- The women, well the better, conventionally, sophisticatedly clad women will stare at you, nudge a fellow women following the suit, or would most caringly advise you on how you should dress, if this is not working they are left with just one thing and that is to gossip with the another lady in your presence so you get a hint where you went wrong!
All in all being judgemental shouldn’t be treated as a norm, rule or a principle. We can skirt away from it, which is if we choose to. We are all different in ways which are usually inexplicable, just because you are securing an ‘A’ in all societal parameters, this in no way gives you the license to gauge, judge or grade a fellow woman. For the men, well learn to practice what you preach; when you expect your sisters, daughters and mothers to be respected the same applies for you. If it is not okay for a woman to smoke, it certainly is not okay for a man too.
If you’ve liked the plot or have an adverse opinion about, I would still recommend you to watch this movie for your own good. All you women, who are vociferous, living independently or live life as nobody’s business might get intimated with how things pan out, but by the end of it you’d thank me for this recommendation!
Happy Watching!