I am a feminist and my feminism started with a fish fry so once upon a time my
with a fish fry so once upon a time my
with a fish fry so once upon a time my family seated around the dining table my
family seated around the dining table my
family seated around the dining table my grandma dad and my brother and myself my
grandma dad and my brother and myself my
grandma dad and my brother and myself my mom is serving food and never heard any
mom is serving food and never heard any
mom is serving food and never heard any third life has it occurred to her that
third life has it occurred to her that
third life has it occurred to her that she can actually sit down along with us
she can actually sit down along with us
she can actually sit down along with us and we can also own food but then in
and we can also own food but then in
and we can also own food but then in that stories for another day today she’s
that stories for another day today she’s
that stories for another day today she’s got three fish sighs and she makes sure
got three fish sighs and she makes sure
got three fish sighs and she makes sure that the oldest of the table and the two
that the oldest of the table and the two
that the oldest of the table and the two men at the table get one each a twelve
men at the table get one each a twelve
men at the table get one each a twelve year old me six at weeks I’m deeply hurt
year old me six at weeks I’m deeply hurt
year old me six at weeks I’m deeply hurt I demand to know why I am not considered
I demand to know why I am not considered
I demand to know why I am not considered deserving of the fish trap my family is
deserving of the fish trap my family is
deserving of the fish trap my family is shocked but my mom she flabbergasted
shocked but my mom she flabbergasted
shocked but my mom she flabbergasted I heard she could not happen why I’m
I heard she could not happen why I’m
I heard she could not happen why I’m overreacting because she probably never
overreacting because she probably never
overreacting because she probably never got any fish fries in her entire life
but then that’s how my journey of
but then that’s how my journey of questions bacon in school I stand for
questions bacon in school I stand for
questions bacon in school I stand for the student elections so what happens is
the student elections so what happens is
the student elections so what happens is this whole school is divided into four
this whole school is divided into four
this whole school is divided into four different houses and each house gets two
different houses and each house gets two
different houses and each house gets two captains
captains
captains the boy who wins the highest number of
the boy who wins the highest number of
the boy who wins the highest number of votes becomes the captain and the girl
votes becomes the captain and the girl
votes becomes the captain and the girl who become who gets the highest number
who become who gets the highest number
who become who gets the highest number of votes becomes the vice captain by
of votes becomes the vice captain by
of votes becomes the vice captain by default like they thought husband wife
default like they thought husband wife
default like they thought husband wife the captain vice captain is like perfect
the captain vice captain is like perfect
the captain vice captain is like perfect but a few of us don’t think it’s perfect
but a few of us don’t think it’s perfect
but a few of us don’t think it’s perfect we question and the system has changed
we question and the system has changed
we question and the system has changed so from there on every house gets two
so from there on every house gets two
so from there on every house gets two captains one girl captain and one boy
captains one girl captain and one boy
captains one girl captain and one boy captain
captain
captain so by this time in my life I’m like you
so by this time in my life I’m like you
so by this time in my life I’m like you know this is pretty cool and this is how
know this is pretty cool and this is how
know this is pretty cool and this is how life is gonna be you just ask and you
life is gonna be you just ask and you
life is gonna be you just ask and you get everything done around you but then
get everything done around you but then
get everything done around you but then I move on and start working in the real
I move on and start working in the real
I move on and start working in the real world out there I start working in and
world out there I start working in and
world out there I start working in and in in an industry which bans you if you
in in an industry which bans you if you
in in an industry which bans you if you ask questions yeah like they actually
ask questions yeah like they actually
ask questions yeah like they actually ban people so what happened was I was
ban people so what happened was I was
ban people so what happened was I was working in a few movies and at the same
working in a few movies and at the same
working in a few movies and at the same time I was hosting a television show and
time I was hosting a television show and
time I was hosting a television show and the the theater owners union comes along
the the theater owners union comes along
the the theater owners union comes along and tells me that I can’t do that
and tells me that I can’t do that
and tells me that I can’t do that what why not and they ban me no
what why not and they ban me no
what why not and they ban me no conversation no discussion it is banned
conversation no discussion it is banned
conversation no discussion it is banned me I got to know about it on the evening
me I got to know about it on the evening
me I got to know about it on the evening news no kidding
news no kidding
news no kidding but nevertheless I persisted I
but nevertheless I persisted I
but nevertheless I persisted I questioned the ban then I flout the ban
questioned the ban then I flout the ban
questioned the ban then I flout the ban and I’m still here but when I look back
and I’m still here but when I look back
and I’m still here but when I look back I see a line of women who didn’t ask
I see a line of women who didn’t ask
I see a line of women who didn’t ask these questions in all these situations
these questions in all these situations
these questions in all these situations my mom who never really got any fish
my mom who never really got any fish
my mom who never really got any fish frys my teachers who never really got a
frys my teachers who never really got a
frys my teachers who never really got a similar platform because of their gender
similar platform because of their gender
similar platform because of their gender my yesteryear colleagues for whom I
my yesteryear colleagues for whom I
my yesteryear colleagues for whom I think the unfairness had just began to
think the unfairness had just began to
think the unfairness had just began to become a way of life and no I’m not here
become a way of life and no I’m not here
become a way of life and no I’m not here to blame any of them when I walked into
to blame any of them when I walked into
to blame any of them when I walked into this film industry I was greeted with
this film industry I was greeted with
this film industry I was greeted with words like shelf life adjust compromise
words like shelf life adjust compromise
words like shelf life adjust compromise smile more but most often to dumb down
smile more but most often to dumb down
smile more but most often to dumb down like you know they would ask you to dumb
like you know they would ask you to dumb
like you know they would ask you to dumb down and I’m like yeah that comes very
down and I’m like yeah that comes very
down and I’m like yeah that comes very easily to as women all the girls here
easily to as women all the girls here
easily to as women all the girls here you remember when we were in there rtj
you remember when we were in there rtj
you remember when we were in there rtj teenage years we used to dumb down so
teenage years we used to dumb down so
teenage years we used to dumb down so that the boys would find is all kawaii
that the boys would find is all kawaii
that the boys would find is all kawaii and perfect marriage material types yeah
and perfect marriage material types yeah
and perfect marriage material types yeah so you know I think we girls are just
so you know I think we girls are just
so you know I think we girls are just very good at putting up an act because
very good at putting up an act because
very good at putting up an act because we are
we are
we are always told to be someone else not
always told to be someone else not
always told to be someone else not someone the society wants us to be not
someone the society wants us to be not
someone the society wants us to be not as for sure so I think that’s why we
as for sure so I think that’s why we
as for sure so I think that’s why we have about 150 actresses coming into the
have about 150 actresses coming into the
have about 150 actresses coming into the industry every other year to act
industry every other year to act
industry every other year to act opposite like 10 male actors who rule
opposite like 10 male actors who rule
opposite like 10 male actors who rule the industry yeah they could only find
the industry yeah they could only find
the industry yeah they could only find about 10 men who could really act
about 10 men who could really act
about 10 men who could really act against the 150 girls don’t worry boys
against the 150 girls don’t worry boys
against the 150 girls don’t worry boys it’s just our experience working in our
it’s just our experience working in our
it’s just our experience working in our favor really and but then the question
favor really and but then the question
favor really and but then the question remains how long do you dumb down how
remains how long do you dumb down how
remains how long do you dumb down how long do you stay silent and what does it
long do you stay silent and what does it
long do you stay silent and what does it take to break your silence in February
take to break your silence in February
take to break your silence in February 2017 my friend and colleague was
2017 my friend and colleague was
2017 my friend and colleague was physically assaulted and sexually abused
physically assaulted and sexually abused
physically assaulted and sexually abused on a moving car in spite of knowing all
on a moving car in spite of knowing all
on a moving car in spite of knowing all the consequences of going ahead and
the consequences of going ahead and
the consequences of going ahead and pressing charges she stood up for
pressing charges she stood up for
pressing charges she stood up for herself and demanded for the justice
herself and demanded for the justice
herself and demanded for the justice that the that she deserved I think she
that the that she deserved I think she
that the that she deserved I think she broke every single Convention and
broke every single Convention and
broke every single Convention and stereotype that was associated with a
stereotype that was associated with a
stereotype that was associated with a woman in her situation and that is what
woman in her situation and that is what
woman in her situation and that is what it took to break my silence and that
it took to break my silence and that
it took to break my silence and that opened a Pandora’s box of questions and
opened a Pandora’s box of questions and
opened a Pandora’s box of questions and we are seeking answers okay so now let
we are seeking answers okay so now let
we are seeking answers okay so now let me give you a small glimpse into this
me give you a small glimpse into this
me give you a small glimpse into this Pandora’s box in the wake of this
Pandora’s box in the wake of this
Pandora’s box in the wake of this incident the president of the all
incident the president of the all
incident the president of the all malayalam movie artists association
malayalam movie artists association
malayalam movie artists association remarked that harassment and sexual
remarked that harassment and sexual
remarked that harassment and sexual harassment in particular was a thing of
harassment in particular was a thing of
harassment in particular was a thing of the past
the past
the past social media abuse on women is alarming
social media abuse on women is alarming
social media abuse on women is alarming right now but if any of you women want
right now but if any of you women want
right now but if any of you women want to feel any better please visit the
to feel any better please visit the
to feel any better please visit the comments section of an actresses FB
comments section of an actresses FB
comments section of an actresses FB profile like you know we kind of have
profile like you know we kind of have
profile like you know we kind of have our whole life figured out because
our whole life figured out because
our whole life figured out because they’ll tell us what to wear what to do
they’ll tell us what to wear what to do
they’ll tell us what to wear what to do what how to act how to behave as a woman
what how to act how to behave as a woman
what how to act how to behave as a woman as a
as a
as a as a wife like life-lessons you want to
as a wife like life-lessons you want to
as a wife like life-lessons you want to come to a comment section and you’ll
come to a comment section and you’ll
come to a comment section and you’ll also get to know all the different
also get to know all the different
also get to know all the different sexual positions that they would like to
sexual positions that they would like to
sexual positions that they would like to rape us in it is 2017 and female actors
rape us in it is 2017 and female actors
rape us in it is 2017 and female actors get paid one third of their male
get paid one third of their male
get paid one third of their male counterparts we are told we have
counterparts we are told we have
counterparts we are told we have absolutely no value when it comes to
absolutely no value when it comes to
absolutely no value when it comes to satellite rights that is when they sell
satellite rights that is when they sell
satellite rights that is when they sell a movie to television houses and also we
a movie to television houses and also we
a movie to television houses and also we don’t play any part in box office
don’t play any part in box office
don’t play any part in box office collections so I’m thinking they might
collections so I’m thinking they might
collections so I’m thinking they might as well buy a few extra furnitures for
as well buy a few extra furnitures for
as well buy a few extra furnitures for the set design or maybe they actually do
the set design or maybe they actually do
the set design or maybe they actually do think of us as furnitures already you
think of us as furnitures already you
think of us as furnitures already you know so the male to female ratio on any
know so the male to female ratio on any
know so the male to female ratio on any random set is 1 is to 30 and we all know
random set is 1 is to 30 and we all know
random set is 1 is to 30 and we all know Kerala as a state has the healthier sex
Kerala as a state has the healthier sex
Kerala as a state has the healthier sex ratio in the country today the we shock
ratio in the country today the we shock
ratio in the country today the we shock our guidelines which had which has been
our guidelines which had which has been
our guidelines which had which has been laid out by the Supreme Court of India
laid out by the Supreme Court of India
laid out by the Supreme Court of India and which has been passed into a law
and which has been passed into a law
and which has been passed into a law recently is not followed in such a big
recently is not followed in such a big
recently is not followed in such a big movie industry in spite of us paying
movie industry in spite of us paying
movie industry in spite of us paying about 40 percent entertainment tax to
about 40 percent entertainment tax to
about 40 percent entertainment tax to the government we have had production
the government we have had production
the government we have had production controllers barging into our rooms of
controllers barging into our rooms of
controllers barging into our rooms of actresses and physically assaulting them
actresses and physically assaulting them
actresses and physically assaulting them and being left scot free with a
and being left scot free with a
and being left scot free with a customary suspension of like a two
customary suspension of like a two
customary suspension of like a two months yeah a male actor in between say
months yeah a male actor in between say
months yeah a male actor in between say 20 to 70 years like married unmarried
20 to 70 years like married unmarried
20 to 70 years like married unmarried twice married with kids without kids
twice married with kids without kids
twice married with kids without kids with grandkids without grant it does not
with grandkids without grant it does not
with grandkids without grant it does not matter
matter
matter irrespective male actors are given a
irrespective male actors are given a
irrespective male actors are given a platform to explore their craft to to
platform to explore their craft to to
platform to explore their craft to to excel in roles that are exclusively
excel in roles that are exclusively
excel in roles that are exclusively written for them to grow to evolve to
written for them to grow to evolve to
written for them to grow to evolve to see their career take off when they are
see their career take off when they are
see their career take off when they are at their prime and that is the way it
at their prime and that is the way it
at their prime and that is the way it should be and I’m so happy for them as
should be and I’m so happy for them as
should be and I’m so happy for them as an artist but not so happy for the
an artist but not so happy for the
an artist but not so happy for the actresses for whom every decision that
actresses for whom every decision that
actresses for whom every decision that she takes in opposed
she takes in opposed
she takes in opposed life effects her carrier you know
life effects her carrier you know
life effects her carrier you know getting am getting a marriage getting it
getting am getting a marriage getting it
getting am getting a marriage getting it was getting a baby if at all her carrier
was getting a baby if at all her carrier
was getting a baby if at all her carrier get still there everything that she does
get still there everything that she does
get still there everything that she does affects her carrier we all have at least
affects her carrier we all have at least
affects her carrier we all have at least one woman in our life who has completely
one woman in our life who has completely
one woman in our life who has completely influenced our being our existence why
influenced our being our existence why
influenced our being our existence why is it that it is not reflected in the
is it that it is not reflected in the
is it that it is not reflected in the most popular art form of the century why
most popular art form of the century why
most popular art form of the century why is the stories of our women as citizens
is the stories of our women as citizens
is the stories of our women as citizens as leaders as villains as dancers as
as leaders as villains as dancers as
as leaders as villains as dancers as mothers daughters anything but why is it
mothers daughters anything but why is it
mothers daughters anything but why is it not entertaining enough why is it not
not entertaining enough why is it not
not entertaining enough why is it not interesting or heroic enough and now
interesting or heroic enough and now
interesting or heroic enough and now that we are in at this topic of female
that we are in at this topic of female
that we are in at this topic of female representation in cinema the highest
representation in cinema the highest
representation in cinema the highest grossing malayalam movie in history had
grossing malayalam movie in history had
grossing malayalam movie in history had four women in it one a nagging wife to a
four women in it one a nagging wife to a
four women in it one a nagging wife to a sick siren who came on screen just to
sick siren who came on screen just to
sick siren who came on screen just to swoon at the hero three a mother-in-law
swoon at the hero three a mother-in-law
swoon at the hero three a mother-in-law who is spewing expletives for another
who is spewing expletives for another
who is spewing expletives for another wife who is pushing out baby after baby
wife who is pushing out baby after baby
wife who is pushing out baby after baby and why should all of this bother you I
and why should all of this bother you I
and why should all of this bother you I think we need to look at this industry
think we need to look at this industry
think we need to look at this industry as a microcosm of the larger world that
as a microcosm of the larger world that
as a microcosm of the larger world that we are living in and the question still
we are living in and the question still
we are living in and the question still remains is life imitating art or is art
remains is life imitating art or is art
remains is life imitating art or is art imitating life and either ways we have a
imitating life and either ways we have a
imitating life and either ways we have a problem there is something called as the
problem there is something called as the
problem there is something called as the washing batter in the Malayalam film
washing batter in the Malayalam film
washing batter in the Malayalam film industry so while you’re working in a
industry so while you’re working in a
industry so while you’re working in a movie your clothes your soil clothes are
movie your clothes your soil clothes are
movie your clothes your soil clothes are picked up from your room washed ironed
picked up from your room washed ironed
picked up from your room washed ironed and dropped back to your room you’re
and dropped back to your room you’re
and dropped back to your room you’re given the best of food on sets like you
given the best of food on sets like you
given the best of food on sets like you know to delicacies for every other meal
know to delicacies for every other meal
know to delicacies for every other meal beef included
beef included
beef included [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] the production takes care of every small
the production takes care of every small
the production takes care of every small detail of your day-to-day life when you
detail of your day-to-day life when you
detail of your day-to-day life when you are working on their movie this they do
are working on their movie this they do
are working on their movie this they do to ensure that true art is made in every
to ensure that true art is made in every
to ensure that true art is made in every possible way and also you know this
possible way and also you know this
possible way and also you know this carrier this profession gives you so
carrier this profession gives you so
carrier this profession gives you so much of love and support from everybody
much of love and support from everybody
much of love and support from everybody around you you know it’s priceless
around you you know it’s priceless
around you you know it’s priceless I tell I’m telling you it’s priceless
I tell I’m telling you it’s priceless
I tell I’m telling you it’s priceless when I go to functions on it when I
when I go to functions on it when I
when I go to functions on it when I receive the kind of love I receive it’s
receive the kind of love I receive it’s
receive the kind of love I receive it’s priceless and I kind of know the
priceless and I kind of know the
priceless and I kind of know the privileged platform that I have and I
privileged platform that I have and I
privileged platform that I have and I think it is not possible to stand in the
think it is not possible to stand in the
think it is not possible to stand in the middle of that kind of privilege and not
middle of that kind of privilege and not
middle of that kind of privilege and not stand up and do what you can do for a
stand up and do what you can do for a
stand up and do what you can do for a world that is inspiring us to do our art
world that is inspiring us to do our art
world that is inspiring us to do our art it is not possible to turn a blind eye
it is not possible to turn a blind eye
it is not possible to turn a blind eye to the unabashed sexism ageism and caste
to the unabashed sexism ageism and caste
to the unabashed sexism ageism and caste ism that exists in our society and is
ism that exists in our society and is
ism that exists in our society and is reflected in a cinema content and in the
reflected in a cinema content and in the
reflected in a cinema content and in the very fiber of our industry you cannot
very fiber of our industry you cannot
very fiber of our industry you cannot not be disturbed by the fact that an
not be disturbed by the fact that an
not be disturbed by the fact that an artist community is not trying to change
artist community is not trying to change
artist community is not trying to change that narrative you cannot not be
that narrative you cannot not be
that narrative you cannot not be disturbed by the fact that an audience
disturbed by the fact that an audience
disturbed by the fact that an audience community of the most literate
community of the most literate
community of the most literate open-minded and progressive state in the
open-minded and progressive state in the
open-minded and progressive state in the country today is not very mentally
country today is not very mentally
country today is not very mentally asking for that change in narrative for
asking for that change in narrative for
asking for that change in narrative for the first time in this country 20 women
the first time in this country 20 women
the first time in this country 20 women from different walks of cinema come
from different walks of cinema come
from different walks of cinema come together and ask these uncomfortable
together and ask these uncomfortable
together and ask these uncomfortable questions on behalf of everybody who
questions on behalf of everybody who
questions on behalf of everybody who wants to ask these questions and form
wants to ask these questions and form
wants to ask these questions and form the woman in cinema collective we are at
the woman in cinema collective we are at
the woman in cinema collective we are at a very important crossroad in our lives
a very important crossroad in our lives
a very important crossroad in our lives I think we at least live in times where
I think we at least live in times where
I think we at least live in times where we can actually
we can actually
we can actually ask for the fish fries we think we
ask for the fish fries we think we
ask for the fish fries we think we deserve we need to seize this moment and
deserve we need to seize this moment and
deserve we need to seize this moment and saw the seeds of change and like a true
saw the seeds of change and like a true
saw the seeds of change and like a true blue filum lover I want to borrow
blue filum lover I want to borrow
blue filum lover I want to borrow Shivaji Ganeshan dialogues from favor
Shivaji Ganeshan dialogues from favor
Shivaji Ganeshan dialogues from favor Magan to kind of put things in
Magan to kind of put things in
Magan to kind of put things in perspective we saw the seeds today and
perspective we saw the seeds today and
perspective we saw the seeds today and they will reap the fruits tomorrow and
they will reap the fruits tomorrow and
they will reap the fruits tomorrow and then it will be their daughters and then
then it will be their daughters and then
then it will be their daughters and then their daughters we might not be around
their daughters we might not be around
their daughters we might not be around to see it but we’ll be the ones who
to see it but we’ll be the ones who
to see it but we’ll be the ones who sought the seeds for them this is a call
sought the seeds for them this is a call
sought the seeds for them this is a call of duty for us and our questions are our
of duty for us and our questions are our
of duty for us and our questions are our seeds of change let us all come together
seeds of change let us all come together
seeds of change let us all come together and promise to ask all the questions
and promise to ask all the questions
and promise to ask all the questions that our past generation could not ask
that our past generation could not ask
that our past generation could not ask so that our future generation will not
so that our future generation will not
so that our future generation will not have to ask them thank you
have to ask them thank you
have to ask them thank you [Music]
”
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