The Portrayal of Women in Sooraj Barjatya Movies

‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ (MPK) is a typical story of rich boy falling in love with poor girl, facing parental opposition, at the end overcoming the opposition and living happily ever after. It stars Salman Khan and Bhagyashree.

‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’ (HAHK) stars Madhuri Dixit, Salman Khan and a galaxy of supporting actors. It is based on an old ‘Rajshri movie – ‘Nadiya Ke Paar’. It is about the relationship between two families that are joined by friendship and marriage. Tragedy strikes in the form of the death of the daughter-in-law, Pooja (Renuka Shahane), after which follows a saga of sacrifice. But everything gets sorted out towards the end and everyone lives happily ever after.

In HAHK, there is a shrewish woman played by Bindu who is only concerned with beautifying herself and is very mercenary. She is loud, in manner as well as in dress. She propagates dowry and always berates her brother for not getting his nephew, Rajesh, married to a girl of her choice, who would have got loads of jewelry and money as her dowry. The worst thing that a filmmaker could show in his or her movie is a woman propagating dowry, and this is just what Barjatya has done.

What Barjatya portrays in his movies is what actually takes place in our Indian society, but if a filmmaker of his caliber and reach would only make an effort to portray women in a much more gender sensitive manner, it is possible that some ultra conservative family in some corner of India would at least think of possibly letting their daughters study and stand on their own two feet, instead of thinking of them as a burden that is to be got rid off as soon as possible by marrying them off to some strange family. But instead, he just portrays women as meek, passive dolls that cannot and should not think for themselves and who should not even think of taking care of themselves, and who should only slave for their family till the day they die.

As a result, these women just do not seem to have an identity of their own – they are seen as just someone’s mother, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law or sister-in-law. They are known only by their relation to the men in their life.

In HSSH there are not one but three vamps played by Kalpana Iyer, Kunika, and Jayshree T. they are the best friends of the mother, Mamta (Rima). It is established right at the beginning that they are ‘bad’ women because they stay up till late in the night gambling and get up late in the morning. Other than this they seem to have nothing better to do than instigate people against each other.

In MPKDH, the protagonist, Sanjana’s mother, herself is portrayed as a vamp. She too is very loud, obnoxious and mercenary. She goes all out to literally sell her daughter to a Mr. Richie Rich. Sanjana’s family mistakes Hrithik’s character, Prem Kishen, for his rich boss, Prem Kumar (Abhishek Bachchan). So, the mother first sings Sanjana’s praises in front of Poor Prem. Sanjana does fall in love with him. But when Rich Prem appears, the mother ruthlessly cuts off all ties with Poor Prem, and starts selling her daughter to Rich Prem and his mother (Rima). She also lies to Sanjana about Rich Prem coming to ‘see’ her, and when Sanjana finds out, she calmly tells her to forget about her love and get married to Mr. Money Bags. Even Sanjana’s sister (Tanaz Currim) advises her to do so. Both are so blinded by money that they completely refuse to acknowledge Sanjana’s feelings. If a woman does not understand another woman’s feelings, then who will? Barjatya is just giving more weight to the adage – “a woman is another woman’s greatest enemy.”

Another factor that is very typical of Barjatya’s films is the shy and coy heroine. In all four of his movies, the hero woos, while the heroine shyly succumbs to his overtures. Women have been known to make the first move in a relationship, but in Barjatya’s world such a thing would be scandalous. All the heroines do, is dress up in bright clothes and dance at the innumerable marriage ceremonies to entice the hero, once he shows any interest in her. And all of them wear loads of makeup. Even when the heroine has just woken up, she is completely made up, without a strand of hair out of place. Barjatya, this way, is laying stress on the point that women have to look their best at all times, and it would be inexcusable if she looked a bit raged or frumpy at times.

‘Main Prem ki Diwani Hoon’ (MPKDH) stars Kareena Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan. It is about a supposedly modern day girl, Sanjana (Kareena Kapoor) who wants to live life on her terms, but more often than not, it is dictated to her by her mother (H

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