Activist Shabnam Hashmi explains why the film ‘Jawan’ is not just a great entertainer, but also a strong women centric and politically relevant film.
Six Strong Woman Characters, an Unapologetic Single Mother, Massive Political Relevance: Feminist Review of Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan on Women News with Shabnam Hashmi.
To say that the whole country, and world, is talking about Shah Rukh Khan’s blockbuster Jawan would be an understatement. Audience response to the film have been nothing short of a fan’s frenzy at a rock concert or the mass reverence at a monarch’s coronation.
The film “Jawan” is praised for its portrayal of strong women characters. In an interview, feminist activist Shabnam Hashmi speaks about the film’s political relevance and its potential impact on real-life social and political situations. Here are some excerpts from the interview conducted by Women News Editor Sanjukta Basu.
Watch the full video of the interview on Women News YouTube Channel
Strong women characters in the film
“Jawan” is a highly women centric film containing strong women characters in important roles. Though Shah Rukh Khan’s character is the main protagonist, there are six strong women characters in key roles, each exceptionally talented, highly skilled and professional, without whom the male protagonist could not have achieved his goals. Every important action in the story is led by women characters. One of them plays the daughter of a farmer who committed suicide. Through her story we get to know about the plight of farmers. Then there’s a skilled hacker who is a woman and a key to the entire operation in the story.
In commercial action films, women play minimal role, that of the hero’s mother, sister, romantic partner and so on, often portrayed as weak and vulnerable, and in need of rescuing or protecting by the hero. Women characters rarely get enough screen presence in these male centric hyper-masculine action films. Jawan breaks those patterns.
There were also about 3000 strong women who fought in the main battle toward the end. As we know, the climax fight is often the most important scene and usually focuses on the main hero and villain both being men. Jawan changes that gender stereotype.
We also see the depiction of a strong independent single mother, who is single by choice, and unapologetic about it. Usually, even when Bollywood depict single mothers, they show a bechari widow waiting to be saved by a hero by marrying her. But here, marriage is not the woman’s priority. She has a daughter, and an important job. She asserts that she had an affair and had to choose between marrying a man or continue with her pregnancy and she chose her child over the marriage and the man. We also see her being too busy with her professional life to even go and meet a prospective husband which is such a fresh change from the way women are depicted where they drop everything in life including jobs, education, for marriage.
The film shows the collective strength and power of women and what they can do if they come together. It gives an important message to India’s political leaders, the opposition leaders, that you can no longer achieve your goals unless you include women in every decision making process.
The Political Relevance of the Film Jawan
The film is politically extremely important. Few films raise as many important socio-political questions in one film with such boldness as Jawan has. It is not to say that there are no other films which are raising these questions, but no other film has the massive reach that Shah Rukh Khan has. That makes a difference.
It touches upon a number of contemporary issues in India, such as the farmer’s woes, crony capitalism, corruption in purchase of arms and ammunitions for Indian Army, covid pandemic and lack of oxygen cylinders among others. There is the character of Dr Iram, a Muslim woman doctor who was jailed for procuring private oxygen cylinders because babies were dying, and government could not supply oxygen. That character is seemingly inspired by the real life pediatrician Dr Kafeel Khan’s story.
Shah Rukh Khan addressing these important issues with his global fan following makes this film significant.
Jawan is a commercial action film, so one should not expect the cinematic treatment we expect from a noirish art film. One may debate about the solutions shown in the film. But fact is, we activists keep raising a lot of these issues, but we do not have the reach. So, thanks to Shah Rukh Khan, director Atlee, who also co-wrote the film, and producer Gauri Khan that they made this bold film. One can see that it is a conscious decision on their part to make this film as a political statement. Gauri Khan as the woman producer in the male dominated film industry must also be commended. I would also like to mention the stellar performance given by Deepika Padukone in a short but very important role. Her character reminded me of Bhagat Singh who walked to the gallows fearlessly since they knew they are on the path of truth.
Do films have real life impact? Can the film Jawan touch the conscience of the Indian youth, many of whom were either born in or gained adulthood in the Modi era, and prompt them to question authority, seek accountability from the power that be?
I live in Delhi’s Dwarka area, which maybe said to be a right wing neighborhood. I saw the film in a Dwarka shopping Mall and the way the crowd was cheering in the scene where Shah Rukh Khan delivers a monologue urging voters not to vote on religion and caste but question political leaders as to what they will do if voted to power I can certainly say the film has touched hears and shaken the youth conscience. The timing of the film is also relevant. Had this film come five years back it may not have had much impact. But now, when people are fed up with the misgovernance, corruption, hate and violence in the public discourse, this film would definitely push them to think before they caste their votes.
My message to Shah Rukh Khan is, thank you very much. Only you could have made this film. Only with you in the lead role would have ensured that millions of people watch it, and it is important for them to see for the times we are in.
