You have been in the television & Entertainment Industry for long now. What is your take on Film & Feminism in India?
I have been in this industry for 20 years and regarding television industry I can tell you that women are always kept above men when it comes to onscreen. Yes there was regressive content made on regressive societal issue e.g. child marriages etc. But if you look at it carefully, even in this kind of content women were without exception shown in a good light. Television has always shown women supporting other women. In series like Balika Vadhu, we all saw how the mother in law and the great grandmother were supportive of the young woman.
In Balaji also, we have always shown Tusli or Parvati or any other protagonist always in control of life and things despite any kind of circumstances that she is in. We know that there are problems which exist for women in real life and that has also been fairly portrayed but ultimately, it was always about Triumph of the Good over the evil. So television as per me has always been a good platform for showcasing feminism.
You have worked with many celebs and established directors in your career of nearly two decades. What’s your idea of women being in this industry?
Like I said earlier, television has always had more women than men in most fields, whether it is some creative field or camera. Behind the camera, of course, there were very few women which is probably the factor which motivated me to take up direction. Direction is something which I started right in the college and since then I have been doing well creatively.
Even in the movies you see Meghna (Gulzar), Nandita Das, Konkana (Sen), Ashiwini Iyer Tiwari, Alankrita and few more have directed films which are praiseworthy by any standards. Right now the number of women directors are a handful and there is always scope for more and more women entering this arena and make a mark for themselves by creating good content.
What do you suggest or would like to amend if given a chance for women working in television industry?
There is not much scope of changing things behind the camera in terms of the creative field but the technical field I would like more technicians, cameramen, editors and directors who are women takeover.
In the current scenario where do you see women reaching in fashion & modelling sector?
I think that with the advent of social media, the fashion and modelling sector has boomed. The same television actors whom we used to see as Abala Naari and very domesticated kind of women have taken fashion by storm. The moment I open my Instagram or other accounts, it is good to see so many women advertising and modelling and earning good money out of it. So I think this is a great time to be in this line of work.
Do you feel that our Television & Bollywood industry still male dominated? If not what kind of future do you see for the young generation seeking career in this segment?
Indeed women are there in the industry but like I said to be in the top notch slot, women need to get there and still have to go some distance. I would like to see more women directors in televisions and films. Editors, DOPs are obviously dominated by women. So they are there but I would like their numbers to increase even more.
For the younger generation, I feel that on the job traning is much better and bigger learning experience than learning from the books. I feel that the colleges and universities must think on the lines of having a longer internship so that kids coming out the college have more idea about which field do they wish to pursue. Even I used to teach in Symbiosis Pune at one point of time. So increasing the internship time for more on the job training must be seriously evaluated. Something on the lines they have in the west, e.g. 6 months of studies and 6 months of on the job training. Obviously someone coming out of such a learning environment will be better equipped to choose the right line and do their job really well.
Fashion Films are big now. In India are we been able to give equal opportunities to women as an entrepreneurs or as models actors or directors?
I think fashion films are a big thing. In terms of models and actresses being in front of the camera, they are definitely dominating it by leaps and bounds. Behind the camera I not sure. Of course there are women photographers and those who do the styling bit but frankly speaking I don’t know too many. Whenever I see the photo credits, I see mostly men. I think now that they are all paid jobs, women will be more excited about taking them up.
Your suggestion to Indian film & television fraternity for their betterment and being more absorbing for aspiring women talents?
Being a women, I am a pro women for everything. I can’t suggest anything to the entertainment industry as such though. Live example of the women being in the forefront is this year’s elections. There are many more women now who are in the cabinet and in very powerful positions. I don’t think women are now fearful of anything. Whatever they put their heart and mind into, they are able to do successfully. I think family wise also the fear has now gone due to more exposure through communication mediums.
Earlier there used to be just about 3-4 fields like Engineering or Medical etc. Now they have opened up many more streams and Media is of course one of them. So I would like more women to step up and take on the work and the beat the challenges associated with their respective line of work.
Your message to our all our viewers & readers?
My message to all the viewers and readers is – please encourage women who are around you. There is always a factor of women being jealous of women and pulling them down but we need to get over this reputation as well as this sentiment. It is always a blessing to have male friends, men encouraging women, motivating them but I think that women have more potential to encourage and boost up women than men. It is better to hear a woman praise you/your work than hear a man do so.
So let’s be very encouraging of women in all the areas of their pursuit. With right kind of guidance and encouragement, it is only a matter of time when women will be at par in their quality of work with the top notch, be it a man or a woman. I also wish to suggest women to jump into the bandwagon of Media since it is a great place to be.
