In Calcutta, every few meters on the boulevard, are signs fastened to metal poles and scores of bigger-than-life billboards featuring glamorous women highly decorated in jewels and gold.
Their alluring smiles and ecstatic countenance as if to display a sense of happiness, fulfillment, makes me wonder what would happen if those signs were replaced with ones that speak of female feoticide and infanticide, of the dowry murders that plague India. Would it prompt women to long for the life, freedom, and power of themselves over the ephemeral pleasure that their jewels bring? How is it, I ask myself, that what a woman decorates herself with is more important than her safety, her liberty, her life?
What if the signs were like this instead…
Still from the Hindi Film Lajja
I remember not being able to finish watching Lajja. Have you watched it?
I remember not being able to finish watching Lajja. really moving. I fully concur with the point that you make.
Hello Roop –
Yes, i have a copy of the film Lajja so have viewed it a few times. It has some good messages in it, but i don’t think it did so well at the box office. not a subject most want to broach, sadly.