Beth, a bollywood fan, analyzes the movie “Chak De, India” and tells us about the good and the bad in it. Reacting to the incident about the girls bashing up the roadside romeos at the restaurant, she says:
Chak De! India is for me a feminist film, unapologetically, boldly, with heart and humor. But women taking on the worst behavior of men and/or male-established/dominated society is not what feminism about. You don’t get to attack people because they mistreat you. Of course these jackasses deserved to be punished. Their behavior was harmful and hurtful and unacceptable. I was totally with Balbir when she yelled at them, and I absolutely do not think females must be quiet and just bear whatever sh*t is dished out at them. But vigilante violence isn’t really the answer here – in my mind, it’s not even an answer (which is one reason I don’t always love the 1970s Angry Young Man acrhetype). In a story that highlights personal and professional success by playing by the rules and behaving ethically and with concern for others, it doesn’t fit.
Hat tip: Sky
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Thanks for the link! I’ve been amazed at how many people have picked up this post and started their own, great conversations about the scene and its implications.
cheers
Beth
Beth I agree with you. I think what the coach wanted was to show that the comments made them act like a team, and it could have been shown in a better way.
Beth, you’re welcome.
Indianhomemaker: yes, that precisely was the point.
And what about that bit when the coach says to one of the gang of young men “Mard ki tarah saamne se laro” etc.?
I personally think in this context, the word “mard” is actually the opposite of “kayar” or coward. So when he says “mard ki tarah …”, the quote is not supposed to mean “ladki ki tarah mat lado” (don’t fight like a girl), but rather means don’t fight like a coward. In a way you could interpret that as a gender-neutral quote.
P.S. – Please be aware that this is my personal opinion and not necessarily all of Blogbharti’s.