Recently Swara Bhasker had written an open letter where she asked Sanjay Leela Bhansali to explain the act of Sati and Jauhar in his film ‘Padmaavat’. In the beginning of the letter, she praised the filmmaker for the film and even raised her concern about the whole protest which went on around the film. She wrote at the end of the letter, wishing him to make more films the way he wants and are allowed to shoot in peace always. To which the writers of the film have responded with an open letter.
Swara Bhasker wrote, “ Mr. Bhansali, I will end in peace; wishing that you make many more films the way you want to, and are allowed to shoot and release them in peace; that you, your actors, your producers, your studio and your audiences remain safe from threats and vandalism. I promise to fight trolls and television commentators for your freedom to express, but I also promise to ask you questions about the art you make for public consumption. Meanwhile, let's hope that no zealot member of any Karni Sena or some Marni Sena gets the idea to demand decriminalisation of the practice of Sati!"
The open letter written by the writers start with the definition of feminism and goes on decry the concept, “And factually speaking – ‘Sati’ was a practice (forced tradition) where women self-immolate themselves (mostly by force, sometimes by will) after the husbands’ death. Similar tradition called ‘Saka’ was observed by men who face a certain death in the battlefield. ‘Jauhar’ is only and only out of free will. As a woman. And as a ‘vagina’.”
Stay tuned for more updates.
