BANGALORE: Sandalwood, like any other film industry, has tried its hand at fighting rape through the powerful medium of cinema.
One such project that's been indefinitely in the pipeline is Ravichandran's Manjina Hani.
The film went on floors seven years back but is still to see its release as the director feels that the script can still be perfected.
The filmmaker-actor talks to City Express on what he feels about the issues of rape and sexual abuse and the recent cases involving children. Excerpts:
People desensitised, powerless
When I wrote the screenplay eight years ago, I read that a woman in the country was being raped every eight minutes. Now I'm reading about kids being raped. People seem to have become accustomed to such cases. Only when this happens in their houses, do they wake up.
Even once it gets to them and people stand up for the victims and hold protests, not much changes. Soon after the Nirbhaya case, which sparked candlelight vigils and got people expressing their outrage, the capital was marred by another rape. How many people came forward after that? Criminals are fairly certain now that people can't do much to endanger their lives. They know that protests won't continue forever since people have careers and routines to get back to. Closing the city down for a bandh will not do the trick. Fast track the process: the moment a criminal is given more time, we're veering away from the path to justice. Only if the law is strengthened by better implementation will society, including its weaker sections, have the faith and courage to seek redressal through the courts.
Punitive measures
No matter how a rapist is punished, the victim will not feel any less traumatised. The woman or child's chastity is compromised, like a dream lost forever. Killing the criminal can help protect the lives and fundamental rights of so many other people. So why hesitate? The problem is that the criminals aren't really scared of the morrow. So they should be hanged in public, perhaps in front of the Vidhana Soudha even, so that other people fear the punishment at least.Even if the rapist or offender is a juvenile, he shouldn't be exempted.
Shut the school down
Reopening the school because parents are concerned about their children’s future might not be the best move. The school has to accept responsibility for the teachers it hires, it has to follow guidelines. The rest of the staff too has to be questioned by the police. Again, this way, fear will help keep some people in check.
Dress sense is an excuse
Why blame women for the way they dress? Are only women who wear short skirts raped? What about the saree-clad victims then? Rapists don’t look at the clothes of women and decide whom to rape.
Society has progressed, and we see women on an equal footing as men in several spheres. The woman of today is independent, not one who’s confined to the house. So the question to be asked is, how do we ensure her safety?
Behind the scenes
It’s not as if the film industry takes care of its women’s safety. But because stars are usually afraid of coming out in the open and talking about abuse, it’s hard to take any action. Still, it’s not as if we can’t have a forum to check such incidents. A woman, no matter where she works, deserves respect, and those abusing her should be brought to book, says Ravichandran.