THE FIRST FEMINISTS OF HINDI CINEMA

Contrary to Kangana Ranaut’s recent claim, the list of Hindi film actresses playing feminists on screen is long and diverse, stretching all the way back to the 1930s

- Maithili Rao

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the foremost feminist of all? Definitely not Ms. Kangana Ranaut, though she claimed on a news channel to a fawning anchor that she is Hindi cinema’s first feminist. The primetime anchor, a woman at that, didn’t deem it necessary to ask a follow-up question, or ask Ranaut to justify on what ground has she declared this on national TV. Anyone even with a cursory knowledge of film history will not let this pass. I don’t think I would have ventured into Hindi cinema’s rich past, but for Ranaut flaunting her feminism as if she discovered it.

The interview was bang in the centre of the foggy miasma churned up by many contentious issues that our TV channels connected with the zeal of intrepid sleuthscum-semiotic gurus. Trial by media had never looked uglier and more politically motivated. Into this jumped our self-righteous diva, posing as a rebellious warrior. Feminism is dragged into this slanging match.

Jaya Bachchan’s passionately incoherent defence of the industry in Rajya Sabha sent the rant-pitch to shriller levels. Ranaut’s claim needs to be addressed and answered, because the past has some shining examples of women portrayed with nuanced sympathy and courage of conviction by exceptional film-makers and equally, if not more, exceptional actors. It is a legacy not to be scoffed at by a Jane-come-lately.