When sex frees, and not just sells

The increasing sexuality of women in Indian films is breaking taboos for women.

The trailer of Alankrita Shrivastava’s Lipstick Under My Burkha is making all the right noises, with netizens appreciating it for touching on a topic that is commonly considered taboo — women and their sexuality. In recent times however, movies like Parched, Angry Indian Goddesses and Margarita With A Straw have also brought this subject to the forefront.

“Patriarchy is very entrenched in our system. Women are often conditioned to put their desires and wants as secondary. So the fulfillment of a man’s desire often takes precedence. So yes, it is important for women to articulate their desires, express them and reclaim them. I think films that reflect and explore what women want, can start an important conversation,” says Alankrita, director of Lipstick Under My Burkha.

“These are very sensitive subjects which require the right depiction. Margarita with a Straw portrayed sexuality in a manner that could be accepted by the middle class. It is important for cinema to address sex and women. It is also important to show that women have control over their bodies and that sex isn’t just for children, a barter or something you don’t have a say in. It is surprising how regressed we are in this day and age,” says Shonali Bose, director of Margarita With A Straw.

Tannishtha Chatterjee, who acted in Parched, says that these films are an expression of how women in India are changing. “There is a greater participation by women in making these films, and also, the spending power of women as audiences has increased — it is not just family-oriented films which make it at the box office. As artistes, we have to push the existing boundaries and think beyond the norm. If enough stories are told, they can have an impact.”

But why do women generally shy away from these topics “Indians do certain things in a certain way — like not indulge in PDA, etc. People of my generation were asked to follow certain moral orders. But audiences are far more open now and people discuss these movies and the topics on the internet. Filmmakers deserve the credit for being so progressive,” says filmmaker Elahe Hiptoola.

Radhika Apte, who recently acted in Parched says, “As a society, we have always alienated the subject and it’s almost considered as taboo. Films like these start the dialogue, even if it works on 10 people out of the rest, it’s a great change.”

It is important for women to talk about their sexuality, shares Dr Sharmila Mazumder, sexologist and adds, “Sexual health, be it male or female, is equally important. Good sexual, mental and physical health — all three components are very important. Anything amiss and it will have an impact. Sex is like any other biological need. Women don’t talk often about sex because of our society where they are often subdued and there is lack of sex education at every level. Sex is either a joke or made to look obscene, it is never taken as a health requirement.”

— With inputs from Dyuti Basu, Pooja Salvi and Subhash K. Jha

It is important to show that women have control over their bodies and that sex isn’t just for children, a barter or something you don’t have a say in

Shonali Bose, Director As artistes, we have to push the existing boundaries and think beyond the norm

Tannishtha Chatterjee, Actress

Gender equality has been much debated and there is no denying the fact that women have come a long way. While we have focused on equality at work, equality of pay etc., we have completely ignored the very foundation of existence — sex. A woman talking about sex is quite a taboo in our society; forget demanding it from her partner. We, as a society develop because of cinema and literature. Change is gradual but we have to make sure that it is consistent.

— Bhaavna Arora, author of Mistress of Honour, The Deliberate Sinner and Love Bi The Way

—As told to Namita Gupta