I may never make a movie on rape - Prakash Jha

Even as the disgusting epidemic called rape continues to spread its vicious tentacles across the country with impunity, Bollywood this time has remained unusually silent. Usually the first one to milk any available opportunity of converting a real-life tragedy into a movie plot (remember RGV’s terror tour just a day after the dastardly attacks on Taj), things seem to stand on a different footing today with filmmakers shying away from making any movie revolving around this sensitive topic. We spoke to Prakash Jha, known for his socially relevant hard-hitting movies, and asked him if he would consider making a movie on rape. And the acclaimed director had this to say. “I may never ever make a movie on rape in India. I hate to say this but the moment I make a film on rape; people will come flocking to see the film just to see the rape scene and get titillated. I have had this bad experience. Such movies here appeal to the baser senses of people and they just want to see rape.” Now that’s the real but very ugly truth. Our society has never been able to see women in a saner way. As Prakash puts it, “We have objectified women and it’s the society to be blamed. We have not been able to put fear in the mind of these criminals,” says Prakash and also avers that it’s not possible to have police presence everywhere. “Also what’s the guarantee that the police guard won’t rape?” questions Prakash. A very grim reality, we say. Let’s pray and hope that the wheels of change will be set into motion with today’s much awaited judgment in the Delhi rape case.