By Samuel Thambusamy and Lanusenla Longchar 

Lajja narrates the story of four women [ Ramdulari ( Rekha), Vaidehi (Manisha Koirala), Maithili (Mahima Chaudhary, Janaki (Madhuri Dixit) ] who have either been tormented or exploited by men for their selfish gains. The film raises a poignant question:

Why is it that women are treated like robots? Are they robots? Why is it that you go to a temple and pray to Durga, Kali and Saraswati yet when you go home you treat your Durga’s, Kali’s and Saraswati’s so maliciously?”

Lajja is about how a wife, an independent woman, a  daughter, and a courageous village low caste woman search for humanity and dignity, despite blatant cultural misogyny.

Interestingly, the four women’s names Maithali, Janaki, Ramdulhari, and Vaidehi are all the other names of Sita, who is often hailed as the highest ideal within the Indian cultural space. The plight suffered by these women and their images/messages of protest is ingeniously embedded in the DNA of the film.

Women’s Issues raised in Lajja 

Financial dependence/insecurity: Women have less access to financial resources and often depend on their men.

Lack of emotional support: The family dictum: Husband is always right
 
Dowry: Gifts the father of the bride needs to give which are often demanded. Thereby, women are commodified

Marriage expenses: The bride’s family needs to pay for the marriage and keep up to the demands of the bridegroom’s family

The ideal women stereotype: Goddess Sita is portrayed as the ideal women and women are socialized into ‘ Husband is God” syndrome

Sexual Harassment: The threat of sexual harassment is very real

Abortion: Women’s role is generally seen as child bearing and child rearing. The decision to have the baby is taken for her by the husband or family members

Male child preference: Sons are usually preferred within the family.

Female Infanticide: Girl children are killed at birth because of being considered a liability

Rape: Women bear the brunt of rape as a means of revenge

Watch the movie Lajja (directed by Rajkumar Santoshi) and reflect on the characters Ramdulari ( Rekha), Vaidehi (Manisha Koirala), Maithili (Mahima Chaudhary, Janaki (Madhuri Dixit)

Vaidehi (played by Manisha Koirala)

Vaidehi (played by Manisha)’s story helps us to see the inner world of women – who are supposedly beyond the issues of abuse and violenceissues usually with the lower class women. She has no peaceful existence – neither with her husband nor with her parents. She is financially dependent on her husband and a social liablity if not financial for her parents (particularly after marriage).

She is in a precarious position. If she protests over abuse and violence, she faces the threat of abandonment. If she returns to her father’s house, she becomes a symbol of shame for her family.

Most women go through abuse and violence and accept it as part of their lives because of the absence of support groups, particularly the family. Worse, within a culture where family honour is everything, an abused girl faces rejection from her own parents. Despite betrayal by the husband, ” The-husband-is-always-right” line is the ready defence helps blind the eyes, deafens the ears and silences the truth.

Vaidehi represents women who face rejection in the name of family honour. Vaidehi is wanted – only because she can bear a child – someone to inherit the family tradition and property (or both). It’s a shame that women face this plight. It’s a shame that we have no support systems for girls, whereby they can stand up to abuse and violence. 

Questions for further reflection:

• Briefly, what do we know about the character?
• What is the gender message that is communicated through the character?
• What aspects of this character seem accurate to you? Why?
• What parts of the image reflect how women really are?
• What aspects of this character seem inaccurate or wrong to you? Why?
• What parts of the character reflect a gender stereotype that you believe is inaccurate or wrong?
   
  [ This post is part of the Images of Women in Indian Cinema project undertaken by Wisdomtree - Center for Religion and film based in chennai ]