Baaghi 3 Director Says He Doesn’t Understand The Concept Of Thappad. It’s Because Of Your Hidden Misogyny.
Recently, over a few cosmopolitans and a heart-to-heart conversation with my girlfriend, I found myself talking about the red flags in a relationship that are reflective of the fact that it’s probably time to wrap up. And while most of the conversation included pointing out the subtle red flags, like guys who don’t understand the concept of feminism, relationships that aren’t monogamous, the conversation also turned to obvious red flags about partners who are violent. Something that even though is and should be enough for two people to consider parting ways, is not enough for the society to make their peace with. Apparently, this is also what director Ahmed Khan thinks.
After directing his latest movie, Baaghi 3, director Ahmed Khan recently shifted his focus on other movies, Thappad being one of them, and made a comment that while making no sense, did make us cringe. In a conversation on a promotional event, the director said, “I found the concept of Thappad strange. Just because the husband slapped his wife, will she leave him forever? If she doesn’t agree with this attitude, she too should slap her husband in return.”
He then added, “If I slap my wife, she can slap me back and end it. If I tell her that I don’t want to be with her anymore, then she can also tell me the same. But, will a slap decide whether a couple can stay together or not? However, everyone has a different point of view and way of looking at it.”
Also Read : Inspired By The Movie Thappad, Rajasthan Police Has Started A Helpline For Women To Report Mental Abuse And Domestic Violence
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We found his response rather strange. But then again, we should used to it by now. It’s obvious the men in our country are dense. And his response reminds us something Kabir Singh’s director also said, something on the lines of how to express love, you’ve to be able to physically attack be violent with each other. We know, we were rolling our eyes as well. Because the way we or anyone looks at this, a slap might seem like a simple transgression, even a mistake, but as Taapsee says in the movie, it was reflective of how entirely skewed her relationship was in favour of her husband. Not only are Ahmed Khan’s words questionable in themselves, but so is his mentality if this is the school of thought that he comes from where a slap is somehow an acceptable part of a relationship dynamic.
Thappad protagonist, Taapsee Pannu, upon coming across his comment responded to the director by saying, “He (Ahmed Khan) makes films based on what he finds correct and it is the same for us. We have always seen relationships where there is love and respect. But then again there might be those kinds of relationships of which he is talking about. He can continue to make films he is comfortable with. We will do what we are comfortable with.”
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A movie that has sparked quite the debate on whether or not a slap was enough to rile up such a conflict has also urged Rangoli Chandel to take to Twitter and share her views that are entirely bizarre and unwarranted. “I see this debate is going, want to know your views, I think if my partner slaps me I will leave him temporarily send him out of the house and make him live alone for months or years, may not leave him forever if he suffers him mistake and apologies.. ”
And we wish she hadn’t. Because once again, if the response to a slap, or any act of violence is not accepting that perhaps the entire dynamic of the relationship is flawed, then it as diluted as our patriarchal society and is only encouraging such a behaviour. But considering Rangoli has never been the kind to make reasonable arguments, because she added to this by saying, “I asked Kangana she said she will probably demolish someone who slaps her but she likes when her partner spanks her, I was confused I asked what is spanking? She said it’s like a slap only but not on face cheek but on butt cheek …. oh!! Now I am even more confused.” As are we. We want to clear the confusion for her and let her know that the fundamental difference between the two is not just intention and consent but also context. But who are we to argue with Rangoli?
