It was just earlier this month that everyone was all praises for Kajol’s compelling performance in Devi. The film was lauded for its compassionate portraiture of rape survivors’ plight. And all seemed to be going well post that until Twitter handle, Bad Bollywood Takes, recently decided to share a video on the micro-blogging site.
The video is a snippet from Anupama Chopra’s YouTube channel Film Companion where Kajol can be seen making a comment on rape and sexual assault survivors. In the video, Kajol can be seen making a comment on survivors who have been through some kind of sexual harassment but haven’t really been raped. She says “Then there is again a whole batch of people who are screaming and crying about, I wouldn’t say triviality, but it’s not rape or it’s not as gruesome as what rest of the true survivors have faced. I just feel that there needs to be a balance to how you tell your story.”
As problematic as it is, Kajol doesn’t stop just there and goes ahead saying, “And I think you need to do it from the heart and in a more practical manner rather than screaming and ranting that all men are bastards which just makes you lose your credibility as a woman and you are not doing anything for the women who are standing up there and saying that, ‘listen we have been abused and we need a place to stand on.'”
Here’s the video shared by Bad Bollywood Takes:
This is beyond shameful. You don't decide who's a true survivor. The crime doesn't have to be gruesome for someone to demand justice. pic.twitter.com/ye3rCeWFbN
— Bad Bollywood Takes (@badbollytakes) March 14, 2020
Honestly, Kajol’s take on survival, trauma, and opening up about sexual assault is rather shocking especially after she just did a film on the topic. To categorise survivors on the basis of the gruesomeness of the assault and to call some of them “true survivors” is downright wrong. Who are we to decide the extent of trauma that someone has experienced? And more importantly, do we really need to get raped before we can “scream and cry” and call out those who have wronged us? Twitterati also called out the actress on her comments. Here’s how people are reacting:
Oh, This Should Ruffle Some Feathers
Well, We Are All In This Together
Yes, It’s Digital But No, You Can’t Say Anything
True AF
Saying It Like It Should Be Said
Of Morons & Oxymorons
Well, Yes. Hell, Yes!
It is 2020 and, not to forget, the post-Me Too era. If some of the most prominent and representative individuals from the industry continue to think that rape is the only valid form of “sexual harassment” then not only is this regressive, but also points out the need to raise alarm. There is no way one should be sanctioned to measure trauma from their place of privilege. We hope Kajol realises this soon.
Featured Image: Instagram
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