MUMBAI: "It is really good that BBC has made this documentary. Standing here I have heard statements like "if a girl roams outside late at night, or if she wears something that provokes men, she will be raped". Since the documentary is made, we will realise that most men think like rapists," was a strong statement echoed by veteran lyricist and Rajya Sabha MP Javed Akhtar in Parliament while debating on the documentary 'India's Daughter'. Social media became a platform to debate whether the documentary should be banned or telecast. This trigged us to speak to musicians in Bollywood and know their views on 'India's Daughter'.
Most musicians like the women and the country's youth, demanded justice after being filled with agony. Singer Rahul Vaidya thought that the documentary brought up an issue that had faded with time and cannot thank the makers enough for the documentary. Like most of the youth in the country, the 27 year old was full of questions. “You know people say it is wrong to broadcast the views of a rapist, but if it was wrong, who gave the permission to BBC to meet these monsters in a high security zone. The Government. Now when the documentary is made and is released they find it wrong? Also what have we, as a country, done for that 23 year old? It is over two years, and the rapists are still breathing fresh air? Why are they alive? What have we done for the security of women? At least this documentary reminded us of the topic that we had forgotten.”
Musicians like Amaal Mallik demanded justice and were deeply ashamed with the way women are seen in society today. He vented his frustration saying, “I am completely disturbed with the attitude the men of this country have towards women. Can a father, husband, guy ever trust another guy with his daughters, wife or girlfriend? Parents are afraid to let their kids out, guys are afraid to let their girls travel late; women can't walk safely in by-lanes, why? Why should a girl sit at home? Because a bunch of illiterate, sex starved animals want to have some fun? Is that what has become of the girl child? These guys are sick, I have seen people react like 'Oh if she can sleep with that guy or live with that guy she can easily give in to us? Really? A girl has the right to do whatever she wants to do. Who the hell are people to opine their sick conclusions?” He further added, “I am ashamed of our country's men. If these as*****s are not hanged, we will forever lose our faith in democracy. I am sure there are a bunch of good men standing to support women and be there when such s**t happens. #DontgiveIn''
Sharing Mallik’s opinion was another Bollywood singer- Aishwarya Majumdar. She blatantly expressed her opinion on the documentary. “I am so moved by the entire incident that I could not make myself watch the documentary. It is like being a woman, one cannot do much and at the end of the day you feel so helpless. All of us had seen Nirbhaya, when the incident happened; we even saw her fighting for her life but yet having the courage to fight and constantly ask her parents if the rapists were caught and she wishes to live. But at the end of the day even after two years we are still hearing the views of the rapists and all we hear is it was her fault. Hearing these things gives me goosebumps and helplessness seeps in, as there is nothing we can do except demand justice.”
Ehsaan Noorani of the Shankar Ehsaan Loy trio, too expressed his opinion on the same and called the documentary a medium of change, and is in favour of anything that could bring in change. “I have not yet watched the documentary, but it has brought to light the mentality of men in the country and if it brings in change, I am all for anything. The other day I heard a five year old getting raped by a rickshaw driver at Aarey Milk Colony, Mumbai. So we need awareness and also the guilty should be punished so severely that they even regret the heinous crime that they have committed."
However singer and Minister of State for Urban Development, Babul Supriyo had a completely different view on the documentary. He felt that it was not well researched and does not serve the purpose of curbing rapes in India. “We do not wish to hear a rapist's viewpoint thru his own filthy language. The documentary is ill-researched and poorly made. It only throws limelight on the dirty minds of a few demented men including the rapists' lawyers and does NOTHING to the huge social menace of rape."
On a personal level, being a girl and the writer of the article, the documentary made me realise that on one hand we want India to be at the helm of development and at the apex of the global economy, but on the other, the basic right of being a girl is snatched in various ways. The people of the country rant about a ‘Code of Conduct’ for women. Why not have a ‘Code of Conduct’ for men? It has been a little more than a couple of years since the incident and justice is still pending. This Women’s Day I do not know if I should rejoice being a woman or fear for my safety in the future. Nonetheless, Happy Women’s Day.