While growing up, we admired so many iconic movies that don’t seem to look iconic anymore. Be it Hum Saath Saath Hai or Baghbaan or Dil To Pagal Hai, it is sad how our movie makers promoted regressive behaviours in the name of sanskaar, family values and love.
One such iconic movie that lost its charm is Shahid-Amrita starrer Vivah. Now, knowing so many people loved this movie, we do understand that we are going to hurt some feelings. But, we hope that many would still relate to the fact that this movie promoted misogyny and a regressive patriarchal mindset in the name of sanskaars and family values!
From Fair Skin Obsession to Marriage Obsession, Vivaah justified everything in name of love or family values.
1. Fair Skin Obsession
It is quite heartbreaking how the movie puts so much focus on Rajni’s skin colour. The movie shows how Poonam (Amrita Rao) is admired by everyone whereas her younger sister Rajni is constantly neglected and shamed for her complexion.
On multiple occasions, she is cursed for her skin colour and told that she could never be like her sister.
What’s even more disturbing is how the movie promotes this regressive mindset rather than shattering it.
2. Kanyadaan Obsessed Father
Krishnakanth has only one dream to get his orphaned niece married. There is no discussion about her career, work or education. The only thing that matters to this father is marriage. Even in Poonam’s childhood, Krishnakanth’s obsession with marriage was so clear as he taught her how to get her dolls married. In the patriarchal society, where parents start obsessing about their daughter’s wedding from the day she is born, characters like Krishnakaanth only strengthen the regressive mindset.
3. Marriage > Career Or Job
Not just the girl’s parents, but even the boy’s parents are shown equally marriage obsessed. Remember how the father insists his son, Prem, who has just graduated from college get married. And, he has just one and only one reason and that he is of the “correct” age to get married. How this movie promoted the regressive mindset of “the right age for marriage” is so problematic.
4. Marriage is more important than life
Just before the wedding, the house catches fire and Poonam and Rajni are stuck in it. Poonam saves her sister Rajni as the burning pandal comes crashing down. While her whole body receives third-degree burns, her beautiful face is saved from any injuries. Seriously, Where’s the logic?
But, sadly, the makers were so much obsessed with the marriage that the groom was made to fill the bride’s maang with sindoor as she was recovering from third-degree burns. Who cares about the trauma that Poonam went through or the fact that her body was 70% burnt – the makers cared just about marriage! Prem entered the ICU, removed his mask and filled her maang to show his support. Because, without sindoor, who would have believed his love or support for his to-be wife? Who cares if Poonam was so close to death, what matters was sindoor in her maang? Who cared about her wounds and recovery, as long as she was married!
Movies & Society:
Cinema has a huge impact on our society. And, anyone who tells you otherwise hasn’t understood the immense power of the movies and shows. Even people who feel the movies are only for entertainment, they don’t understand how movies impact humans’ sub-conscious minds. We hope the film industry will understand how it can help in making our society progressive. We do understand movies are made for profit. But for the sake of profit, can we justify the regressive and misogyny promoted by our movies? What do you think? Tell us in the comments below.
