Pink, Pink, Pink. For once, the colour typically associated with all things women, has caught the attention of all genders, ages, and strata of society. This Amitabh Bachchan starrer, starring relative newcomers alongside the stalwart, made on a meagre budget of Rs 26 crores, has already made a tremendous impact on masses and classes alike.
Mr. Amitabh Kumar, Head of Media and Communication, recently watched the film and has come away very impressed. He had this to say “That Mr. Bachchan has been an icon for the country is nothing new. Throughout his career he has done amazing movies, catering to all kinds of audiences. However, I feel Pink is a service he has done to young people. In today’s generation, alcohol, celebration and sexuality are mixed up, and overlapped. However, no one speaks about consent, in all this, which is the most important aspect of all of this. Without consent, this enjoyment often turns into crime. What is noteworthy is that this movie addresses this issue of consent in an entertaining and relevant way. Hats off to the writer and the director of the movie, who haven’t been preachy at all. They’ve presented facts, and shown situations exactly how they happen in life. I would highly recommend this movie, and suggest that people of all genders should go and watch it, and they should talk about it. In my decade of being an activist and being involved in social issues, I firmly believe that it is the greatest piece of awareness generation that I have come across.”
Cambridge English Dictionary defines ‘consent’ as “to agree to do something, or to allow someone to do something”. Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, explained it beautifully in an interview, when he said “No means no. There is no way to expand it, or explain it.” So simple and easy to understand, right? Yet, it’s often sidelined, assumed, and given least importance to, in many arguments revolving around gender based discrimination and gender based violence. The issue of consent is a serious issue, traversing across issues of sexual relationships, substance abuse, and all social problems, yet it is overlooked most of the time. Consent is an issue which not only India, but developed countries like United States of America (read our blog on the #BrockTurner case) are also grappling with.
At Centre for Social Research, we’re so proud that a movie on this important issue, has come out of the Indian film industry, in a movie, which is so mainstream and commercial. The fact that an actor of the masses and classes stars and supports this, adds to its credibility, and the overall reach of the film. We are so happy that the issue of consent is now being discussed openly courtesy Pink, and hope that more such socially relevant, yet entertaining movies are made in India.
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