“Queen”: Versatileness and Self-Discovery of Woman
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Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL) Vol.5.Issue 1. 2017 A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal (Jan-Mar) http://www.rjelal.com; Email:[email protected] RESEARCH ARTICLE “QUEEN”: VERSATILENESS AND SELF-DISCOVERY OF WOMAN NIGAR ALAM Ph.D (Full-Time) Research Scholar, Department of English, B.B.D University,Lucknow (U.P) [email protected] ABSTRACT Indian movies especially Bollywood has been an integral part in the lives of masses. It is a huge business in India with credible impact on our socioeconomic and political system. Some movies are for entertainment while some convey strong message to the society. One such movie ‘Queen’ directed by Vikas Bahl exposes the versatileness and self- discovery of a woman. Since time immemorial women have been subjected to emotional, mental and physical atrocities by the patriarchal mindset. The deep rooted gender stereotypes and gender role ascribed by societal norms have NIGAR ALAM long been major hurdles on the path to accomplish gender equality. Though women’s right group and activists have championed for the equal rights and opportunities for women in the society, it has not been enough to end gender imbalance. Perhaps each woman has to be strong and adaptable to come out of the situation she faces instead of meekly accepting it as destiny. Rani (Kangana Ranaut) the protagonist of the movie ‘Queen’ is all set to marry Vijay (Rajkumar Rao) but he backs out of alliance at the last minute citing now Rani didn’t match his standard. It was he who had persuaded Rani while she was studying and dumped her so unceremoniously just before their marriage. Rani a simple Indian girl didn’t let this unfortunate incident to be unfortunate. She took matters into her hand and declared she would continue with her pre-booked honeymoon alone. She didn’t choose to whimper at the turn of events but decided to live on her own terms. In Indian culture there is a misconception that single biggest achievement in the life of a girl is to get married. But ‘Queen’ proved that wrong. It portrayed how calling off marriage affected man too. Key Words: marriage, self-dependant, gender equality, Indian culture ©KY PUBLICATIONS The world has largely been led by patriarchal so called normal people. All human beings are societies and women have through the years largely essentially equal by law of nature and any inequality remained quiet in the face of atrocities. There is a based on gender, class, colour, or physical disability growing perception that strong can bully the feeble. is irrational. Biologically women are not lesser Women constitute half the population of the world human beings but our social norms and customs yet on account of being physically weaker is make them inferior than men. The holy scriptures of subjected to various cruelties by the other half of major religion of the world too doesn’t treat women the population. Similarly, physically challenged and differently then why women are in so deplorable transgender too are oppressed and harassed by the situation. Who is to be blamed? Is it women 348 NIGAR ALAM Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL) Vol.5.Issue 1. 2017 A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal (Jan-Mar) http://www.rjelal.com; Email:[email protected] themselves who allowed men to shrink them in such than men. All the three medals for India were won lowly position, or men who manipulated the by women. religious texts and laws in their favour. We need to Another movie Pink too exposed patriarchal introspect about it and find out ways to stand for mindset as it focuses on the ordeal of three single our rights. We are not allowed to be ourselves, to do girls. The girls bonding are exemplary as they stood things according to our wish. We have to follow for each other when their lifestyle was not approved what men want us to follow. We are represented in by the society. It brings home the point that leading less number in all the major powerful positions. a certain kind of life by women doesn’t make them There are just few women politicians, ministers, any lesser women or it doesn’t project to the other C.E.Os, writers, officers, doctors. We are still viewed sex that they are available. Two movies by as fit to be in home and do the mundane household Aishwarya Rai Jazba and Sarabjeet again portray duties. We are in possession of less intelligence and strong and courageous woman as mother and sister strength according to men and so we can be cowed respectively. Neerja a brave air hostess played by down. Education perhaps is the greatest tool to Sonam Kapoor fought bravely against terrorists who bring change in the mind-set of both men and had hijacked the plane. In the process she lost her women. It brings confidence and self respect in an life. Thus it’s not men only who are brave and can individual. ‘Education is the most powerful weapon put their life to danger, women too can do the which you can use to change the world.’ – Nelson same. Similarly in Kahani-2, the subject of child Mandela. abuse is taken by the protagonist Durga Rani Singh. Indian movies are a powerful tool to show Sonakshi Singh’s movies Force 2 and Akira presents reflection to the society. In recent times especially, the self defence technique a woman can adopt many women-centric movies have been made. when faced with challenging situations. Ki & Ka Earlier in movies, generally women played the part shows the portrayal of man and woman in opposite of singing and dancing around the trees or chasing roles where a man stays at home and a woman goes the heroes. But, now the realisation came that out to work. This is against the social norm where a women too have voice of their own and they should woman is supposed to do household work and a portray the chauvinist attitude of males. It’s not that man goes out to work to earn money. Thus, we can the movies only talk about women empowerment; now see Indian movies are representing women in they try to showcase how women fight against all the right direction. odds to overcome the difficulties they face in their The world failed to empathize with the life. The year 2016 has been full of female oriented grievances of women. A notion that women belong movies, the most recent one being Dangal. The in the kitchen is synonymous with misogyny in wrestler father Mahavir Singh Phogat couldn’t society. Women have been mostly found at the follow his dreams due to family constrains, vowed to receiving end. Feminists have long criticised the make his son win gold medal in wrestling for India institution of marriage. They stated that marriage but his wife gave birth to four daughters. It is unsaid leads to oppression of women and their rights dictum that wrestling is for men, but Mahavir gave curtailed. The gender inequality is judged from the up his obsession for having son and trains his fact that mostly women take up domestic and caring daughters in wrestling and they won gold medals for work and they get paid less than men for outside the country. He realised a gold medal is gold work. Traditionally, all men give speech and the whether won by a boy or a girl. This achievement is women surrender her name to take her husband’s more relevant considering that Haryana has one of name. A woman is supposed to follow the footsteps India’s worst child sex ratio and a shocking track of man and agree to all his whims. Her ideas and record in the matter of female foeticide and desires are considered irrelevant by male hierarchy. infanticide. The recently concluded Olympics (2016) Bette Davis said, “When a man gives his opinion, in Brazil established the fact that women are no less he’s a man. When a woman gives her opinion, she’s 349 NIGAR ALAM Research Journal of English Language and Literature (RJELAL) Vol.5.Issue 1. 2017 A Peer Reviewed (Refereed) International Journal (Jan-Mar) http://www.rjelal.com; Email:[email protected] a bitch.” (Published in Times Life, November 27, his antics. This period of mourning establishes the 2016) fact that she has loving family. Her parents and Queen released theatrically on 7 March 2014 younger brother are worried and protective. touches the subject of marriage and its importance Nobody blames her for the break up or forces her to in the life of an Indian girl. Rani the protagonist of reconcile with him. Rani is finally motivated by the the movie is excited and happy to be chosen by one words of her grandmother, who says, ‘Mera bhi of the most perfect man of Rajaouri. It is always boyfriend tha Faisal ... phir tere dadaji mil gaye imbibed in the minds of young girls that to be refugee camp mein ... kaun kahan mil jata hai beta married is the greatest achievement she can ever kis ko kya pata tu kisi baat ki chintaa iss waqat mat have in her life and Rani is fortunate to be chosen by kar bas apni zindagi ji aaram se bilkul jo milna hota one of the most eligible bachelor. The film opens hai na zindagi mein woh mil ke rahta hai uss ko with the celebration scene where women are nahin koi rok sakta. Aaj tere ko lag raha hai teri practicing dance moves and in the background we zindagi khatam kal ko phir sab theek ho jana hai can see the house is decorated with blinking lights parson tu aapne aa ke kahna hai dadi jo hua acha hi and heart shaped ‘Vijay weds Rani’; sweets are hua.’ She chose not to crib at the sudden change of packed.