New Delhi: Raj Kapoor is still remembered as one of the greatest filmmakers of Indian cinema. But in his later films, many audiences started saying that women were shown from a special kind of masculine eye in their films, which seemed exploitative. However, Raj Kapoor was aware of this criticism and his perspective was something else about it.
Raj Kapoor introduced women in a sensual way in films
In fact, he believed that this criticism, which was exploited in the eyes of others, was his way of showing the beauty of women. After the 1970s, almost all his films introduced many of their female characters in a sensual manner and Raj has also addressed the same in the book presented by his daughter Ritu Nanda. In those films, including Bobby, Mera Naam Joker, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Prem Rog and Ram Teri Ganga Maili.
Zeenat Aman’s dress created a stir in Satyam Shivam Sundaram
In a book called Raj Kapoor: The One and Only Showman, Raj talked about the time when he spoke to CBFC (Central Film Certification Board) about his 1978 film Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Zeenat Aman was in the lead role in this film and his Katasum in the film created a lot of stir in those days. Raj told in the book, ‘We are shocked by Nyadity. We should throw throw. In the country which has produced 700 million children, people are shocked by a little nudity! Why are we so hypocritical? Children do not grow on trees. They are made on bed. And what is immorality in showing a beautiful girl? Take cinema to villages, give them entertainment. Now they only have entertainment to make alcohol, drink it and have children.
When Raj Kapoor started questioning the censor board
Raj then talked about showing the censor board in India about showing Satyam Shivam Sundaram and said, ‘When the film (Satyam Shivam Sundaram) was completed, I asked the censor board,’ Which is more harmful, which you are allowing? You see banners and posters all over India. In the country that promotes non -violence, everyone is holding a gun or sword or something else! Can’t you understand that this is harmful? ‘ Raj insisted that he respects women, and he does not understand why he was accused of exploiting them. He said that when a director like Federico Felini showed women in Nudity Siyche, it was seen as art, but when he tried to do something similar, it was seen as exploitation. He wrote, ‘I respect women and I do not understand why I am accused of exploiting them. If Felini shows a woman in a naked state, it is considered art. If I show the beauty of a woman, it is called exploitation.
Changes in cinema after 1970s
Women were not always shown in the same way in Raj Kapoor’s films, because after the 1970s there was a significant change. He accepted it and wrote, ‘In the early 1950s, what affected my work, not necessarily affecting the work of the 1980s. It is not that idealism is lost. I have raised topics in which women are probably more active than men or are subject to emotional atrocities by society.
