India's Daughter - my thoughts Part 2

When slum dog millionaire was released several of my friends hated it. I too hated it but on a different angle. Here's the reason! If two scripts were presented to Danny Boyle, one being the original slum dog millionaire script and the other being story of Viswanathan Anand, which one would he pick? Obviously the former. As a movie, slum dog millionaire was well made and deserved appreciation! Yes I digress here from others who still hate that movie.  A particular scene in slum dog millionaire really pin points our culture, how we suck the balls of cine actors and actresses. A boy going loo (poopoo) in a slum comes to know that Bachaan (India's superstar) is somewhere near. Eager to see him and to take autograph, he doesn't waste time.. jumps into shit and goes straight to take autograph. Danny Boyle clearly showed our flaws in our culture. Still now Indians are divided about this movie. Movie went on to show how kids are tortured and made to beg on the street. At the same time, south Indian director Bala directed a movie, "Naan Kadavul (I am God)." The movie had similar theme about helpless kids. No one objected or talked about it. That clearly showed that we can't take criticism from outside the country.



I agree (to an extent.. not everyone) most of the western media/world/people still think of us, as a snake charmer. As if we all raise a snake in our closet, worship and we play the magudi (an instrument played in front of snakes) everyday morning without fail. Sigh! Speaking of snakes, whenever I go to disneyland I avoid going into "It's a small world after all" ride. It's a ride sitting on a small boat. On the way you can hear the song of "It's a small world after all" repeatedly. The boat takes us to depictions of several country. For India, you can see a snake charmer :( Yes the eyes of western media/people are different. A skewed one if I may say.

Not long ago, NYT posted a sarcastic cartoon (after India successfully sent Mangalyaan to Mars) lambasting the NASA/European world. But the picture also had a farmer and a cow in it. It was not pleasing to many eyes. Indians took objections. I can understand the sentiment.




However, recent documentary "India's daughter" directed by Leslee Udwin doesn't fall into that category at all. Not even close!

1. First, it didn't have any high decibel morons like Arnob and jokers as a panel in it. If Indians really want to object that's something un-Indian, it has to be talk shows like Arnob's.
   
2. Second, documentary had view from victim's parents, victim's friend, Mukesh Singh, Delhi police commissioner, former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, Justice Leila Seth, and Oxford academic Maria Misra. Does it have any view of non-Indian? It is only the voice of the Indians? What is there to object? If it had voice of Brits and no Indians I can agree. What is un-Indian in this document really? Honestly if you can't understand this, it is evident that you are hiding behind an agenda.
   
3. In my Part - 1 I have clearly stated that I was shocked at Mukesh and his lawyers' downtrodden thinking. Is that what bothers my fellow Indians? If yes, please tell me honestly if you agree with what they said. If yes, then I see why you vehemently oppose and want to be ban the documentary. If not, don't you think it needs to be discussed in public? Don't you realize your mistake? Will you pass on this negligence to your kids? Really?
   
4. Lot of my friends ask this.. oh.. there are many victims.. why only Nirbhaya? My answer to them.. you are not seeing the big picture. It is not just about Nirbhaya. Only a spark is needed. This has to ignite and change things. If not, we are currently seeing a rape every 20 minutes. This will increase :(  You really want to see a rape a minute?
   
5. Overall the documentary discusses the issue completely and ends with a good question.. "will Jyoti's sacrifice stop future rapes?" On a plantain leaf, a dheepam and few other things floating on a river. A fitting Indian end to the documentary. Do you need any more Indianess to the documentary?
   
6. A common objection I see from people.. oh.. those crimes don't happen elsewhere? Can they speak about the crime in Australia, Antarctica, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Europe etc. My answer to them.. yes it happens all over the world not just India.. but in none of the places people responded like they did for Nirbhaya. It is quite unseen. If that happens elsewhere you can see all the media outlets jumping on it. Again I repeat it.. all media jumping on it. Why didn't "all media" jump in Delhi but only Leslie Udwin? Because they know India would object :) Understand this my fellow Indians, you are sensitive for something that we should condemn. It doesn't matter who brings the issue. Don't shoot the messenger!
   
7. Another common assault.. these people allowed a white lady to enter into prison and take the documentary. How can they allow? Aren't you ashamed and silly saying that? How is it her fault? Isn't that your fellow Indians fault? Why take out on her being white? Really? You racist punk. Stop this menace.
   
8. The rapist's lawyer says there are 250 sitting MPs who have a pending criminal record (rape or robbery or murder). If you are really taking objection against this documentary, did you hear what that lawyer said? It doesn't bother you? But this documentary bother you? Really?
   
9. In the documentary police chief claimed that Delhi is safe as any other developed/developing nation's capital. Do you agree with that? Is that Leslie's statement? Isn't that our own police chief's statement? You don't want to object but object the documentary that brought this to us? Really?

If you are still convinced that the documentary will not do justice to Indian people, what is your agenda? What is right and what is wrong? Do you understand that basic?