Every once a while comes a Dirty woman who makes the world cleaner. For every vulgarity that she exhibits, she brings the world inch by inch closer to its own dirty realities. Giving them seek fake voyeuristic pleasures in thinking about their world as an angelic place. Where this Dirty Woman faces the wrath of morals, judgments and allegations by the society. Every once a while comes along this Dirty Woman who brings about a change.
The latest one being Vidya Balan as ‘Silk’ who broke all records (and buttons) to show that it takes sheer guts to be the Dirty Woman. For she was judged, elated and then smashed to pieces by the very people who whistled for her. For someone who endured the pain of a hunter to give audience the forbidden pleasures, she was the one who dared. And there was nothing sympathetic about it. In fact this Dirty Woman was strong enough to endure without any inhibitions.
Time and again there have been many Dirty Women who have been excluded because they did not fit into the ‘good Indian woman’ mould. There was Kamala Das who shocked everyone with her version free writing. Then there was a Protima Bedi, who gave a run to others morality. Or better still, Zeenat Aman who introduced the hippie Indian woman to the mediocre saree-clad world. From a Shobha De who redefined the socio –cultural ethos to a Sushmita Sen who continues to live life on her own terms they have all been tried and tested by the society.
The examples are plenty and each one of them being slammed by critics and society alike. Only to be put on pedestal later for bringing about a change. Helping in the emergence of a modern society and changing its perception of women beyond mundane trophy wives, good girls and angelic deeds. Instead these women have shown their real selves making them catalysts of a truer, better society.
So ready for more Dirty women...are we?
- Prachi Mujumdar-Kurlekar
