Stree Was All About Feminism But It Had Item Songs – My Thoughts!
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We, as kids and adults, have been raised to believe that movies are a true reflection of the society. And yet, we see the silver screen churning out scripts and stories that have been painted with the same paintbrush that is dipped in the society’s archaic palette of patriarchal colors. But, once in a blue moon, our filmmakers decide to bless us with a movie that is devoid of any such patriarchal notions.
Among the long list of movies that are as thick as two short planks, there are a few gems like Queen, Chak De India, No One Killed Jessica, etc. Movies such as these don’t undermine the status of women or glorify it, but only present it as is. The latest on the block to enter this prestigious category is the Rajkumar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor starrer Stree.
Stree was all about smashing patriarchy by tickling the funny bone and at the same time, spinning a horror story that finds its roots in a village folklore. The movie’s comic timing and narration are such that one moment you are caught laughing your brains out and the next moment you are shrieking.
But, what makes this horror comedy a brilliant movie is its strong portrayal of feminist ideas. Anybody remember the scene where the men are walking around the streets of Madhya Pradesh in sarees? Not only that, they are seen locking themselves up in their own houses and requesting the womenfolk to return home soon, as they are afraid of the witch. To me, this was a very smart way of portraying the plight of women. Women are often told to stay back at home because it’s unsafe otherwise.
The movie subtly (or quite strongly) plugs these everyday fears that women face, by putting the men in their shoes. We know that the witch terrorized the sleepy town by haunting the men because she never found love. But, in addition to that, her vengeance arose from the years of mistreatment and systematic oppression that she was subjected to.
What I loved the most about the movie is how effortlessly they touched upon the idea of consent. Confused? Let’s rewind a little to the scene when Tripathi tells his fellow character that the ghost, Stree, doesn’t behave like men, she doesn’t pick up men without their consent. (Touché?)
Stree was all about busting patriarchal notions. Even the climax of the movie was an emphasis on how women should be respected and not treated as objects of pleasure. All that being said, Stree was a successful attempt at a strong depiction of feminism that is carefully carried on the crutches of folklore. But, there was one flaw in this movie. And to my mind, it was a sleazy flaw. Any guesses?
It’s the infamous and age-old tradition of item numbers. These raunchy dance numbers have been prevalent in Bollywood since time immemorial. Unfortunately, this tradition has somehow crept into this movie too. Have you ever wondered why Bollywood can’t do without item numbers? I have. And, I understand that a woman’s talent is superseded by her ability to do a hyper-sexual dance number.
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But, doesn’t the idea of feminism stand defeated when it has to take the support of an item song like Aao Kabhi Haveli Pe to promote the movie? Of course, these songs are peppy and are often our favorite tracks to dance to. But, a lone woman dancing in skimpy clothes, amidst a horde of men, just to seduce them, (like Nora Fatehi did in Kamariya) doesn’t go down well with me.
This concept of ‘item girls’ has existed since the days of Helen. The only change now is that we don’t have item girls anymore, the actresses themselves step up to play the hot babe. So, am I saying that these item numbers are sexist and a stark contrast to the feministic approach? Yes! Is a woman’s sexuality important to gain viewers? Yes! Are we doing anything about this? No! That’s exactly where the fault lies.
The filmmakers are catering to the demands of the audience. If the audience stops anticipating skin show and objectification of women to make a movie more interesting, then things could be different. But, on the other hand, it is entirely about equality. If a woman chooses to do an item number, it’s her prerogative. She can’t be stopped, that’s not the intent. The idea of a woman dancing to cater to the leering men’s lustful fantasies is wrong. Alas! Having two such songs in this movie totally contradicts its feministic approach.
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I wouldn’t say Stree was a feeble attempt at pinpointing the irksome value system of the society. But, it kind of steered off the idea of empowering women with a couple of item numbers. Nonetheless, it did a great job at starting a conversation and paving the way for feministic attitude to thrive in the society.
Here’s to hoping that films like Stree aren’t just a passing fad, but an inception of changing Bollywood storylines (and also mindsets of the people) and progressive narratives.
What do you think of item numbers in movies? Should they be a part of movies even when not necessary? Let us know in the comments below.
