7chya Aat Gharat

Happened to see a marathi film called 'Saatchya Aat Gharat' (Home before seven thirty). Primarily dealing with the issue of morality and youth, the film narrates a tale of cosmopolitan and urban collegiate youth of Maharashtra. Through the love and romance of these youngsters, the film attempts to set an example of limits, boundaries and traditionally imposed restrictions that the Director thinks should be of help.

The story-line of the film is not off the beaten track. A group of youngsters enjoying their lives with their modern ideas of morality is shown to get an electrifying jolt when a female member is raped by a dead drunk policeman while she is on a physically intimate date with her boyfriend. The Director scores by not merely concentrating on the rattled life of a rape-victim. This has been done enough. Rather she brings in the external perspective. The victim's friends more or less appear to be stable and very supportive. In general even the society does not alienate her completely. But her boyfriend expresses his inability of marrying her after her 'impurification'.

Had the Director restricted herself to just giving a new take on rape and youngsters (and she has done it decently well) she would have scored a few points. But she falls in the trap of giving advice where none is needed. She spends way too much time on explaining how cruel the world is, how justice can be denied and how excessive freedom can ruin a life. She goes completely wrong when she claims that had the girl been home before seven (saatchya aat gharat) the whole tragedy could have been avoided.

She seems to have taken it for granted that if a potential rapist does not see a girl get involved in sexual acts with another man, all rapes can be avoided. The policeman confesses to the court: "After all I am only a 'man'. Whats wrong if after drinking and seeing people have sex, I felt aroused and decided to have my share of physical pleasure?" Through him, Ms. Talkwalkar, the Director asserts that men will always rob women for what they want and it is the women's responsibility to protect herself. Protect yourself, I completely agree with. But Protect by imposing cruel restrictions? Well, this is so 'Talibanesque'. Like telling me not to carry my wallet on me for the fear of attracting a pick-pocket.

I hate the Director for making the film. It portrays youngsters in poor light. Another thing I completely hate about the film is that the victim, her coward boyfriend and all other vagabond characters in the film are non-maharashtrian. Does Ms. Talwalkar seriously believe that Maharashtrians are the most moral in India?

Film makers show us films that are shot from a distinctly male perspective. The all conquering hero, a heroine is prepared to die for and surrender her body to, is a common sight on the Indian silver screen. Of course this 'sexy' looking heroine is the fantacy of the Indian male. Invariably, the mother and sister of the Hero are god fearing traditional looking ladies who exhibit an extreme degree of Indian morality, complete devotion for the men of the house and a completely uncomplaining nature - all of it protected by the Hero.

Ms. talwalkar has been caught in such a trap while making her film. High time she stopped advising the young women how traditional restrictions can keep them safe. I can throw at her face a thousand examples of cruelty behind the curtains of morality and conservative ideas. Perhaps Ms. Talwalkar could mix up more with youngsters and really get to know their side of things before she even attempts to throw around her stupid logic and advice.