The dreaded casting couch musings

Presently life is mundane but good in Australia.

Of late all I am doing in my spare time is watch news channels from my states of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana, India and wonder when the hell did the environment get so exuberant, open, relatively less conservative and controversial? Expressing opinions with a certain gay abandon on social media and TV channels (Gawd!! There seem to be a million of them!) seems the norm than exception. Every man and his dog seems to get an invite to speak on these channels. The only requirement is that one needs points of difference, sometimes no credibility, call each other the worst kind of names and create drama!  The manipulative media and anchors are no less as they are ever ploying to increase their channels’ target rating points. Yet I have noticed that a handful of channels do wish to pursue solutions and direct the mob of participants towards resolutions. Boy! Does that need skill and patience or what??

I have been pretty engrossed with the casting couch discussion in the local movie ‘industry’ (‘ ‘ because it is the most unorganised sector but huge money changes hands). This has gone on for two months and had been getting the air time and attention it deserved until a fuck-wit movie director who I grudgingly have a soft corner for hi-jacked the issue largely by introducing a useless dynamic. I personally also was bewildered by the strategies the male dominated industry employed to use women for their carnal pleasures – hook or crook. The issues that intrigued me were:

1. The supply of (men, women and transgenders) is hugely more than the industry demanded; yep apparently transgenders too were not spared
2. Shelf movie making companies were being set up to lure women for roles in exchange for sex and post sex the producers doing runners
3. There was no supporting cell or a help line or a WHS system in place to protect these women
4. Most appalling, there were no toilet or change facilities during outdoor shoots; meaning women were to  conduct their business without privacy and hazards that could emanate from male co-workers. A definite driver seems to economise on production costs. It is another matter that the stars of the movie were provided A/C caravans to retire to during non-shoot periods.
5. Allegations that a handful of families controlled the movie business. So much for free economy and capitalism without controls and regulation!!
6. Sycophancy towards specific castes and unleashing absolutely vitriolic personalities on TV to attack the few that were fighting for true causes, was disturbing to watch.
7. And women undermining women to point score was disgusting to watch too.
8. A few two-bit starlets who had whispered about the issue in the past came forward out of pure jealousy because someone else hogged the lime light for belling the casting couch cat (through a half naked protest) and these jealous idiots were being provided the air time for TV rating increases; this was all comedic and distressful to watch.
9. A key industry body initially taking a high handed approach and eating its own shit later on was pleasing, satisfying and enjoyable to watch! The National Human Rights Commission asked the body to pull its head out their proverbial.
10. I am amazed how strong the women activist leaders are in influencing these key issues and are actively involved in challenging all concerned and giving the top stars sleepless nights. Congratulations ladies particularly Sandhya and Devi!!

I can go on but then what is my interest in all this? The point is that I am the first to admit that after my 24 years in India up to 1989, I have noticed my own transformation of attitude towards women issues till date. The society back then (and I think even now) treats women in India like shit. Specially if you are uneducated; then forget it; be ready for abuse; such women are toast!! The sad part is that that largely the uneducated accept this as norm and continue to get the short end of the stick. I cannot help but compare how women are treated in India, Malawi, Botswana, New Zealand and Australia, where I have spent considerable time.

The strongest women I have seen are in New Zealand. They surely lead charge and I congratulate them for that! The strength and opinions they exhibit and convey are a treat to watch but daunting if one is not used to watching reversed roles in most sectors. Comparatively Australia is playing catch up. I am not saying the gaps are large but they exist. The Australian male is a tinge dominant and I am being diplomatic; however they are dominant not openly but subtly. But all this is changing and how! I have seen marked workplace and corporate changes over the last nine years which have brought women on almost an even keel with men in Oz. Shemara Wikramanayake leads the charge in my opinion, working for Macquarie and earning over AUD 20M p.a. Shemara is a shining light and an inspirational leader for all (women) in Australia. She has shown that it is possible to achieve equality amidst all odds and by rucking with the big boys as an equal.

My parting comment is that I am father to two young women and I would hate to live in a country where women play 2nd fiddle. I believe the revolution has begun in India and it may take a decade or more to bring about a semblance of acceptable equality between the genders. I am somewhat regretful that at this point in time I am not directly able to be in the action to contribute in my own small way. All in good time …..

You go girls!!