Meet India’s Feminist “Queen”

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Behind all of the beautiful colors, saris and dialogues lies a patriarchy, where men are given the meaty roles and the women are left with the bones. Kangana Ranaut is determined to change that. A girl from a middle class family, often looked down upon simply for biology she can’t change. From a young age, she noticed the difference between the girls and boys in her family. Her brother was supposed to be the breadwinner, savior and everything else. She and her sister were an accident, in attempt of a son. She knew that her parents didn’t have many hopes for their daughters, except to one day get married and have children. She envied that her parents wished only success for her brother and didn’t turn around to encourage her and her sister to do the same. In this anger and frustration, she left her home and went out to follow her dreams.

It took her some time to breakthrough and figure out who she really was. She started from scratch and had a lot to learn. Putting her broken English into pieces and discovering acting changed her life. At only 17, she landed the leading role in a crime drama. The movie (Gangster)]was a box office success and Kangana made her mark as a raw and honest performer in the industry. Throughout her career, her most notable performances include a schizophrenic actress, drug addicted model and villainous shapeshifting mutant. She has time and time again proved her versatility, standing as a strong symbol of a hard working woman in the Bollywood industry. However, her film “Queen” had the biggest impact on audiences. In this film, she essayed the role of a young woman who gets dumped the day before her marriage and decides to go on her honeymoon by herself. It showcases the growth of Kangana’s character Rani and how she discovers who she is. The movie put spotlight on independent women and the importance of being yourself. Through her roles, Kangana has sent her fans and critics alike strong messages of feminism.

Kangana has always been known to speak her mind, without the fear of being politically correct. She has repeatedly talked about the disparity between her paycheck versus her contemporary male actors. She says, “[Men get paid] triple [the amount actresses do]. No one can guarantee the success of a film. So why such discrimination?” This is completely true. After the success of Queen, Kangana’s film Tanu Weds Manu Returns earned over $36 million at the box office which made it the most financially successful Bollywood film with a female protagonist. With each film and interview, Kangana is breaking all boundaries that are set for women and is actively helping to change things in the Indian film industry for women.


Work Cited

"'I Am A Bad-Ass,' Says Kangana On Feminism, Films And Fairness Creams: Full Transcript." NDTV.com. Web. 17 Mar. 2016.





Timeline

  • March 23rd, 1987- Born in Himachal Pradesh, India

  • 2003-4- Moved to Delhi at the age of 17

  • 2006- Release of first film Gangster

  • 2006- Filmfare Award for Best Female Debut

  • 2006 - Release of Woh Lamhe where Kangana played a schizophrenic actress

  • 2008- Release of Fashion where Kangana played a drug addicted model

  • 2008- National Film Award and other accolades for role in Fashion

  • 2011- Release of Tanu Weds Manu where Kangana played an independent college student

  • 2013- Release of Krrish 3 where Kangana played a villainous shape shifting mutant which became one of bollywood’s highest grossing movies of all time

  • 2014- Release of Queen where Kangana played a young woman who is dumped by her fiance who decides to go on her honeymoon herself

  • 2014- National Film Award and other accolades for role in Queen

  • 2015- Release of Tanu Weds Manu Returns where Kangana reprised the role

  • 2016- National Award of Tanu Weds Manu Returns


Reflection

Ever since I can remember, South Asian cinema has surrounded me. As a Bengali American, I have been heavily influenced by this media. So much so that you can call me a bollywood (our version of Hollywood) junkie. The color, costume, music and dramatic nature of the films have always captivated me. However, as I grew up I realized the power that the men in the industry have over mainstream bollywood content. Usually the actors play the main role, with the juicy storyline and amazing characterization. They’re the ones creating, evolving and simply living. On the other hand, the actresses are left to play the flowerpot or “love interest” roles. Enter Kangana, a breath of fresh air.

What inspired me the most about Kangana that from her very first film, she has been changing what it means to be a woman in a place like bollywood. She has almost always chosen roles a conventional actress would typically shy away from because they’re not a ticket to box office success. But she never feared the consequences that her brave decisions may bring. Sure, a few of her films did not work financially, but she has always been praised for her command over her role and strong presence. Her body of work proves her versatility and her eye for strong female oriented films and characters have helped bollywood open their eyes to a rather untapped pool of talent.

Kangana’s strong sense of feminism and want for gender equality is also very inspiring. While women all over the world struggle with the term feminist, she proudly wears it on her sleeve and loves sharing her views with the media and audience. This kind of exposure is extremely important. Bollywood is a billion dollar industry, with many eyes watching their favorite stars. By speaking out publicly about issues of gender equality, her voice reaches so many people. All of this about Kangana and more have inspired me to base my project on her. I hope that Kangana continues this amazing work throughout her career and the rest of her life!

Creative Aspect

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