Recently, we have seen quite a lot of movies from the Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada movies taking the nation by storm. While some of these are great movies, a few of them have handled the romantic themes in a very problematic manner. In the recent hit Pushpa, we saw Pushpa (Allu Arjun) continuously stalking Srivalli (Rashmika Mandanna) throughout a large part of the film.
Now, we have “KGF-Chapter 2” which was released on 14-Apr, and it has turned into a blockbuster hit. But, it has handled the romantic track in an utterly disturbing fashion. The male lead Rocky kidnaps Reena, the female lead, and threatens her father that she will stay with Rocky and be his “entertainment”.
In a later scene, Reena is asked to dress up for Rocky, implying he is going to spend the night with her. As if this was not enough, the director projects Rocky as holy when he tells Reena that he respects women and that they would sleep in different rooms. Does this remind you of something? Well, yes it was something Raavan did with Sita in Ramayana. It seems the makers want the audience to sympathize with a kidnapper.
Throughout the movie, this toxic behavior is celebrated, and eventually, Reena is shown falling in love with Rocky.
Also Read: 10 Most Toxic Relationships Bollywood Movies Celebrated As Romantic
And it’s not just the toxic romance, there are many more things wrong with this movie.
It is shown that Rocky saved the people by assassinating Garuda. But what he does next is troublesome. He goes on and becomes the demi-god for the people he saved. He manipulates them into mining for him in extremely dangerous conditions and fighting and dying for him. All while he lives in a big house with all the wealth, wearing designer clothes.
What’s heartbreaking is that while he is projected as a “Villain-Hero”, there is nothing to be celebrated about him. The filmmakers try their best to make the audience believe in the aura of Rocky and treat the female lead as an object who eventually falls for her kidnapper.
We wonder when will our Indian cinema show us real stories, and stop glorifying such a regressive mindset.
Images source: Movie stills and posters.
