Pink is the New Red (Bold)

I am not a movie critic. I am not a Hindi movie buff either. I rather relish English movies simply because the acting in not loud, there are no unnecessary songs and dances, and they are a tad more realistic.

Nevertheless, I do watch Hindi cinema occasionally when there is something out of the box, such as the latest Hindi flick, Pink.

The movie overwhelmed me, and compelled me to express my emotions publicly. Being a mother of a young daughter, I could easily and very well relate to it. With each dialogue and scene, I dived deep within.

Before I start with my story, firstly, my heartfelt congratulations to the director for raising such a relevant issue that concerns every girl and every parent.

Secondly, a big thanks to the dialogue writer for not beating around the bush but calling a spade a spade. It was a treat to see people talking openly on the screen about issues that are considered a taboo in Indian society. For example, pre-marital sex, virginity, or women taking hard liquor in the company of their male friends – I don’t think the director left any issue, which needed to be raised.

And most importantly, kudos to the perfect casting. I cannot think of a better cast. Every character was well chosen and played his/her part so realistically and beautifully that I could not contain my eyes from filling up on several occasions.

As the story unfolded, I started missing my daughter sitting next to me and both of us crying together.

She recently expressed her desire to live an independent life and learn how to survive alone without the family cushion. She wants to face her own struggles in making her life instead of piggy riding someone – be her mother, brother, boyfriend or husband. She wants to feel self-reliant to deal with her own issues.

The girls shown in the movie were no different. But, they were seen as promiscuous because they live alone, go out in the evenings with friends (read boys) and drink hard liquor! My children faced all these behind-the-back gossip of neighbours and even distant family members who did not approve the way I was bringing up my children – in an open environment. 

Thank God, I don’t belong to that clan who have different rules for girls and boys. I never paid any heed to what people said and did what I thought was the best – to give my children their space, which every grown up individual needs, to evolve and flourish.

The movie refreshed the memory of a conversation I recently had with my daughter, while having a straight-from-the-heart talk. That was one of our emotional moments. She was talking about a boy who proposed to her and she refused. The boy was persistent which annoyed and irritated her. But, she remained friendly and polite to him. I asked why wasn’t she straight to him on the issue, and what she said not only shocked me but also opened my eyes to the problems of the new world. She said she was dead scared of acid attack and the ghost of that probable threat forced her to be ‘nice’ to the person, whom she could not stand, forget about loving. She didn’t want to annoy him to tthat extent where he may throw acid on her.

What Pink showed – the revenge of a hurt male ego, underlined the seriousness and the base of my daughter’s fears. I must admit that after ages I have seen a movie which really touched my core.

This is one film, I believe, every parent should go and watch with their children. It will not only help parents in understanding their children’s needs, fears, aspirations, weaknesses, and strengths, but will also help them remove their blinkers and see things in a broad spectrum, and treat their children as humans, individuals, and the grown-up, responsible citizens who have the right to choose what kind of life they want to live.