Chuck them, India!
One sultry Mumbai afternoon in October, I happened to catch Chak de, India on cable tv. The movie had received rave reviews. My mum even went to the theatre to watch it (a rare occurrence, if you know my mum).
The film is about an ex-India hockey captain who is ostracised after losing a World Cup match to Pakistan (imagine that happening to a cricket player - nah!). Seven years of ignominy later, he resurfaces, offering to coach the Indian women's hockey team.
The movie is a wonderful depiction of the bureaucracy behind Indian sports, the attitudes of players and the hard-to-shake-off "state" mentality.
This film is to hockey what Lagaan was for cricket. The movie rocked the nation - patriotism, women's empowerment, challenging cricket - it's all there.
The acting, script, music and characters are all memorable. But for me, the film struck a chord for a totally different reason. One scene stood out above the rest and will be instrumental in giving this film a special place in my heart.
There's a scene where Kabir Khan (SRK) is leaving the team after the girls rebel. For a farewell lunch, he takes the other staff and the girls to McDonald's (not a good idea, but never mind). There, the girls from Mizoram are subjected to blatant "eve-teasing". The girls ignore the "teasers", but it continues until one girl has enough. She gets up and confronts the creeps, who shockingly, punch her. The scene turns violent as more boys join in, trying to salvage their dignity. Designed (me thinks) to show how team spirit develops, the tables turn (literally) when all the girls join in the fray and beat up the guys.
I was exhilarated. If you're a woman and you've seen the film you'll know what I mean. It was a dream come true! How many times have you been in a similar situation, dying to throw a knife at some creep, or push him under a bus, but are held back for whatever reason? How many times have you walked away, knowing that no other woman, forget about the men, will come to your aid if you protest?
Throughout the scene, I was silently egging the girls on - go on, break his bones! My fury surprised me. I remember turning to my mum, saying "If this film only succeeds in translating this to the street, the world would be a different place."
Being passive about our daily humiliation on the street only encourages the problem. Stand up to it, endure the stares from passers-by, but at least you can walk away with your head held high and the offender cowering.
Let your tears flow once you get home. Then, get up, and be prepared to do it all over again. Every day.
----------------------------
Looks like I'm not the only one to love this scene :
Filmiholic (Favorite scene: how the girls handle eve-teasing at McDonalds)
Reefknot : ...they finally get the team spirit by beating the pulp out of stupid eveteasing boys at McDonalds (thats the spirit people)(if you have the experience of getting back at eve teasers or anybody else who has done something horrid to you..this is something you will love)
Blinkdreamz : I saw "Chak De India", good movie, and what the girls do when guys tease them...that's very good too! I'm a pacifist, but I liked what they did to guys because I felt that that can't be called violence...that's Chastisement
And the site that allowed me to vent my fury for the first time - the Blank Noise Project. Are you on their 'Unwanted' list? (see sidebar on their site, with photos)
The film is about an ex-India hockey captain who is ostracised after losing a World Cup match to Pakistan (imagine that happening to a cricket player - nah!). Seven years of ignominy later, he resurfaces, offering to coach the Indian women's hockey team.
The movie is a wonderful depiction of the bureaucracy behind Indian sports, the attitudes of players and the hard-to-shake-off "state" mentality.
This film is to hockey what Lagaan was for cricket. The movie rocked the nation - patriotism, women's empowerment, challenging cricket - it's all there.
The acting, script, music and characters are all memorable. But for me, the film struck a chord for a totally different reason. One scene stood out above the rest and will be instrumental in giving this film a special place in my heart.
There's a scene where Kabir Khan (SRK) is leaving the team after the girls rebel. For a farewell lunch, he takes the other staff and the girls to McDonald's (not a good idea, but never mind). There, the girls from Mizoram are subjected to blatant "eve-teasing". The girls ignore the "teasers", but it continues until one girl has enough. She gets up and confronts the creeps, who shockingly, punch her. The scene turns violent as more boys join in, trying to salvage their dignity. Designed (me thinks) to show how team spirit develops, the tables turn (literally) when all the girls join in the fray and beat up the guys.
I was exhilarated. If you're a woman and you've seen the film you'll know what I mean. It was a dream come true! How many times have you been in a similar situation, dying to throw a knife at some creep, or push him under a bus, but are held back for whatever reason? How many times have you walked away, knowing that no other woman, forget about the men, will come to your aid if you protest?
Throughout the scene, I was silently egging the girls on - go on, break his bones! My fury surprised me. I remember turning to my mum, saying "If this film only succeeds in translating this to the street, the world would be a different place."
Being passive about our daily humiliation on the street only encourages the problem. Stand up to it, endure the stares from passers-by, but at least you can walk away with your head held high and the offender cowering.
Let your tears flow once you get home. Then, get up, and be prepared to do it all over again. Every day.
----------------------------
Looks like I'm not the only one to love this scene :
Filmiholic (Favorite scene: how the girls handle eve-teasing at McDonalds)
Reefknot : ...they finally get the team spirit by beating the pulp out of stupid eveteasing boys at McDonalds (thats the spirit people)(if you have the experience of getting back at eve teasers or anybody else who has done something horrid to you..this is something you will love)
Blinkdreamz : I saw "Chak De India", good movie, and what the girls do when guys tease them...that's very good too! I'm a pacifist, but I liked what they did to guys because I felt that that can't be called violence...that's Chastisement
And the site that allowed me to vent my fury for the first time - the Blank Noise Project. Are you on their 'Unwanted' list? (see sidebar on their site, with photos)
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