OPINION: I Watched Padmaavat Yesterday And I Do Agree With Swara Bhaskar

Not to mention, I am appalled by the way the other community has been portrayed in the film.

Given the fact that I work for a Bollywood website, the week has been pretty busy for all of us. Sanjay Leela Bhansali 's magnum opus, Padmaavat, finally saw the light of the day and this was big enough. I have personally churned stories after stories and our newsroom became kind of a battlefield too with some unable to stop praising the film and some finding it a "magnum disappointment". Also, thanks to the kind of environment I work in, I almost knew the entire story of Padmaavat and yet wanted to watch the film, so as know for myself what the film was all about.

Meanwhile, Swara Bhaskar's open letter to the director created quite some noise. Not only did it divide the industry into those who agreed with her and those who did not, but it also made the startling revelation of how, even today, people cannot take a woman's opinion and would come forward to spread such negativity about a human being.

Yes, I watched the film just yesterday, and I cannot help but agree with Swara Bhaskar.

I mean, agreed that the language that she had used was quite strong and might have shaken many out of their cocooned shell, but I am totally in agreement to the fact that there was a huge glorification of Jauhar in the film.

Again, let me clear this out. I did not go to grab a popcorn when the disclaimer was being shown at the start of the film. I was there and saw the words through a 3D glass. But if a 15-minute speech on why Jauhar is the call of the hour and then a 20-minute scene on how the women prepare to embrace the burning pyre in non-glorification of Jauhar, I am not sure how glorification would look like. A background music that would imply that this was an act of bravery just made it worse. Making an entire bunch of women think that there was no better way out there for a group of women than to jump into fire itself, I believe, is glorification enough.

So you wanted the women to be captured, raped and turned to sex slaves?

To this, I have a question. If the Maharaja would have thought of jumping into the fire because he knew he would be killed, would you have called this same act brave? Yes, the scenarios could have been different. I am presuming the Raja would not have been raped. But is the fear of getting raped the end of the world. A pregnant lady walking to the fire with a small kid? Seriously? That way, do you imply that we, the women, should sit tight in our house, because hey even an 8-month-old is not safe. What is the difference in the mentality then with those who say that rape happened because the women went out late at night or simply victim shame the women who are survivors of this crime?

Rape is a brutal crime, and yes I am a woman, so I know the amount of pain it can inflict. But getting raped is not the end of the world. Swara Bhaskar had been right to bring up this point.

Jauhar was a reality in the era the film portrayed, so why don't you take a chill pill?

Just FYI, the reality also suggested that Khalji wasn't someone like he has been portrayed in the film. He cannot be called a monster. In fact, I have a huge issue in how there has been a constant comparison drawn to portray Raja Ratan Rawal Singh as angelic and Khilji as a personification of evil. Definitely, I would not say that Jauhar was not a reality of the times Bhansali showed. But why "glorify" it with such grand speeches, such artsy camera movements and a background music that will show that act as one of valor and pride. Why make so many out here in 21st century feel that Jauhar was the only way out?

In conclusion, I will say that no doubt the film was grand and magnificent and I would love to congratulate the director that the film has finally released. But then again I cannot help but agree that Swara Bhaskar was right in pointing out that the film did glorify Jauhar.

Also read: Dear Swara Bhaskar, Dramatization Is Not Necessarily Glorification Of Jauhar In Padmaavat