Heidi R. M. Pauwels
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195369908
- eISBN:
- 9780199871322
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195369908.003.0005
- Subject:
- Religion, Hinduism
Chapter 3 traces the portrayal of divine wedding ceremonies over time. These ceremonies are an important public ritual in which values and gender ideologies are articulated and tradition is ...
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Chapter 3 traces the portrayal of divine wedding ceremonies over time. These ceremonies are an important public ritual in which values and gender ideologies are articulated and tradition is constructed; they encapsulate what is understood to constitute love and its relationship to the matrimonial bond. Sita and Rama's wedding is very influential this way; Radha and Krishna's secret wedding (love marriage or Gandharva vivaha) does not really subvert this ideal, in the movies, such rituals lead to an unhappy outcome. Sending a positive message, the televised Ramayan emphatically corrects for the real‐life inequality between the bride's and the groom's parties and advocates understanding by the in‐laws for a young wife's plight. However, it is more conservative than the older sources in making the total submission of the woman to the man's family a prerequisite for her being treated well. In the “wedding wave” movies of the nineties, such submission is rewarded by an abundance of consumer goods. Movies discussed are Aradhana, Dil, Hum aapke hain koun..!, Lajja, and 7 1/2 Phere. Less
Chapter 3 traces the portrayal of divine wedding ceremonies over time. These ceremonies are an important public ritual in which values and gender ideologies are articulated and tradition is constructed; they encapsulate what is understood to constitute love and its relationship to the matrimonial bond. Sita and Rama's wedding is very influential this way; Radha and Krishna's secret wedding (love marriage or Gandharva vivaha) does not really subvert this ideal, in the movies, such rituals lead to an unhappy outcome. Sending a positive message, the televised Ramayan emphatically corrects for the real‐life inequality between the bride's and the groom's parties and advocates understanding by the in‐laws for a young wife's plight. However, it is more conservative than the older sources in making the total submission of the woman to the man's family a prerequisite for her being treated well. In the “wedding wave” movies of the nineties, such submission is rewarded by an abundance of consumer goods. Movies discussed are Aradhana, Dil, Hum aapke hain koun..!, Lajja, and 7 1/2 Phere.
Heidi R. M. Pauwels
- Published in print:
- 2008
- Published Online:
- January 2009
- ISBN:
- 9780195369908
- eISBN:
- 9780199871322
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195369908.003.0009
- Subject:
- Religion, Hinduism
Chapter 6 studies how goddesses react when accosted by “the other man.” It compares the sexual harassment scenario of Sita's abduction with the eve‐teasing scenario of the Gopis’ being accosted at ...
More
Chapter 6 studies how goddesses react when accosted by “the other man.” It compares the sexual harassment scenario of Sita's abduction with the eve‐teasing scenario of the Gopis’ being accosted at the well (panaghata‐lila). Sita's abductor is a villain and she resists him valiantly, but the Gopis fall for their accoster, Krishna. Sita's abduction on television is shown to be partly due to her crossing the Lakshman‐rekha or protective circle drawn by her brother‐in‐law (not mentioned in the earlier sources). Notwithstanding her mistake, even in hardship she remains true to dharma. In the medieval versions, the Gopis are worried about transgressing against dharma, but their love for Krishna ultimately overrides these concerns. The televised version downplays this scandal and popular film shows little sympathy for women once seduced. While the perpetrator of harassment is punished, the eve‐teaser gets off mostly scot‐free, but the victim of either is always blamed. Movie songs discussed are from Mughal‐e‐Azam, Satyam Shivam Sundarama, and Devdas. Movies discussed are Lajja and Mother India. Less
Chapter 6 studies how goddesses react when accosted by “the other man.” It compares the sexual harassment scenario of Sita's abduction with the eve‐teasing scenario of the Gopis’ being accosted at the well (panaghata‐lila). Sita's abductor is a villain and she resists him valiantly, but the Gopis fall for their accoster, Krishna. Sita's abduction on television is shown to be partly due to her crossing the Lakshman‐rekha or protective circle drawn by her brother‐in‐law (not mentioned in the earlier sources). Notwithstanding her mistake, even in hardship she remains true to dharma. In the medieval versions, the Gopis are worried about transgressing against dharma, but their love for Krishna ultimately overrides these concerns. The televised version downplays this scandal and popular film shows little sympathy for women once seduced. While the perpetrator of harassment is punished, the eve‐teaser gets off mostly scot‐free, but the victim of either is always blamed. Movie songs discussed are from Mughal‐e‐Azam, Satyam Shivam Sundarama, and Devdas. Movies discussed are Lajja and Mother India.
