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| Padmaavat Jauhar Scene |
The Padmaavat cast has been basking in success ever since the movie`s release. Sanjay Leela Bhansali`s Padmavati renamed as Padmaavat witnessed a worldwide release on 25th January. The movie has been receiving a mix of reactions since then. Where most of the film fraternity has stood up in unison for the movie, some have questioned it on moral grounds.
The self-immolation or Padmaavat Jauhar scene at the end of the movie has sparked a lot of controversies and Padmaavat has again somehow managed to hurt the sentiments of another group. Pseudo-Feminists.
The backend of the story goes something like this:
A brave Mewari princess in an uncanny act of loyalty decides to walk into the holy pyre ( Jauhar Kund) along with a trail Rajput women to escape the hands of a cruel emperor.
Some might take it as an act of cowardice, but before to hit like on another `pseudo-feminist` group on Facebook, let us shed a little more light on Alauddin Khilji`s reputation as a ruler, and what might have edged the Rajput women to prefer burning alive over a lavish harem. (Clearly they weren`t all dysfunctional!)
A pedophile ruler:
Many historians claim that the ruthless Khilji was bisexual and a pedophile. He even forced Qazis, into manipulating religious approvals suiting his whims and fetishes
Baccha Bazi:
The concept of ‘Baccha Bazi’ was brought in by foreign invaders ( from Afghanistan), which rapidly spread across the nation. Foreign invaders bought child slaves or men dancers dressed like women, for their personal pleasures. Baccha Bazi was a common thing in Alauddin`s harem.
Zenana:
According to Jayasi’s poem, Alauddin’s lust for his sexual passions had reached such a level that it is said his harem ( a part specially reserved for females) had more than 70,000 males, females, and children. Of which, 30,000 women, were the widows of Mongols that he killed in one day.
Moving on to the Jauhar scene in Padmaavat.
Understanding the true meaning of Sati and Jauhar:
Disclaimer: We do not support either of the customs that have been long banned. Just a wake-up call for self-certified moral torchbearers of the society ( who usually turn a blind eye when a woman is raped, anyways..) who have missed their history lessons.
While both practices have been most common historically in the territory of modern Rajasthan, sati was a custom performed by widowed women only, while Jauhar (and saka) were committed while both the partners were living and only at a time of war.
Jauhar was an attempt to make their men fearless and free them from shackles of human emotions. Where in most women gave into the wishes of the Invader, these brave children of earth fought in their own capacities. We clearly need to get our vocabulary sorted too! Representation and glorification are two very different things.
Let us have a look what the actress has to say on the Jauhar scene:
Deepika on Jauhar:
Deepika seems to have an answer for those questions raised against the Jauhar scene. The actress said that neither she nor the makers endorse the practice of Sati Pratha in any way.
The ‘Padmaavat’ actress is also happy with the standing ovations and applauds, the climactic scene has been getting it in theatres. "The Jauhar scene was the most difficult and challenging to perform," says the actress.
Deepika said, "It`s so powerful. You do not feel like she is doing anything wrong. You want her to embrace the flames because she is going to be united with the man she loves. For me, it was the most difficult scene to perform. We shot it in peak summer at Film City in Mumbai. I cannot tell you how challenging it was. After every single take, I would go up to my van, have a shower, get ready for my scene and go back. With my heavy costume and jewelry, the heat was oppressive. It was such a difficult thing to execute."
Deepika shared her excitement about watching the Jauhar scene with co-star Ranveer Singh and Sanjay Leela Bhansali. "When I saw the scene during the cast and crew screening, Sanjay sir, Ranveer and I, who were sitting together, started bawling. Everyone stood up and clapped. We are part of this film, we know the story, we have been through the journey, yet it moved us. It is one of the best climax scenes that I`ve ever seen," Deepika was quoted saying.
She called "Padmaavat" a `special` film and said, "I know Padmavati is someone who will always be within me. She is going to live within me forever."
Rani Padmavati, fiction or reality, is the bravest queen by far, who wrote her own fate, descending from a bed of roses to a bed of fire.
It’s high time we take a little time off watching free porn and get our history sorted.
