After numerous protests and controversies, Sanjay Leela Bhansali‘s magnum opus Padmaavat has finally hit the silver screen on January 25, 2018, and is doing well at the box office. Amidst controversies and threats, the audiences streamed into theatres across the country to watch the film.
The film has been getting mixed reviews from the audience. While some are impressed with Bhansali’s narration, there are a few who are showering with a lot of love and appreciation for Ranveer’s portrayal of Alauddin Khilji in the film. And there are people who are of an opinion that Padmaavat glorifies the practice of ‘Jauhar’.
Swara Bhasker’s mocking open letter to the director Sanjay Leela Bhansali was bound to create a cyclone of opinions and open floodgates of debates. She slammed the makers for Jauhar scene. While many agree with what Bhasker wrote in her article, others have pointed out holes in her arguments.
She expressed how she felt like a V**ina after seeing the glorification of Jauhar. Swara further said that she enjoys Bhansali’s movies, but this time, she was disappointed to see Jauhar being celebrated. Bhaskar said, “Women have the right to live, despite being raped, sir. Women have the right to live, despite the death of their husbands, male ‘protectors’, ‘owners’, ‘controllers of their sexuality’.. whatever you understand the men to be.”
“Women have the right to live — independent of whether men are living or not. Women have the right to live. Period. Women are not only walking talking vaginas,” she added. Many celebrities from the film fraternity responded to Swara’s open letter, and now, Deepika Padukone, who played Rani Padmini in Padmaavat reacted.
In her words, Deepika said, “She probably missed the disclaimer at the beginning of the film. You probably went out to buy some popcorn and missed the initial disclaimers that come out.
“I think, secondly, the fact that it is important to view a film in totality and to see in which period it was set in. Third of all, I think for me this film is not just about the act (Jauhar) that they all committed, but it stood for so much more. For me, it’s a celebration of women and their strength, power, and dignity.”