The Sentinel

CMYK

CMYK JULY 21, 2018 POTPOURRI About Red and Orange Hues Useful Apps & Websites Sight & Sound Recipes from the Nike training Epic, FilmoraGo, NRL Facilitates Screening Award Winning Author CamScanner, and others of 'Aei Maatite' Mridula Baljekar A Smile that Travelled from Pros and Cons of the Prospective Chhaygaon to Surrogacy (Regulation) Act Buddhadev Nandi the hope of people seeking IVF (In Vitro Fertiliza- tion) treatment. Women sans the capacity of con- The Surrogacy (Regulation) Act prohibiting com- ceiving, thanks to the Act, will never dream of rel- mercial surrogacy and allowing altruistic surroga- ishing parenthood through IVF treatment. Cannes cy to needy infertile couples has been given ap- Surrogate mothers mostly belonging to extremely proval for moving official amendments by the Union poor class are paid hefty amount for their thankful Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Mr. Narendra job of renting womb to childless people. It's really Meant to move Modi. It proposes to regulate surrogacy in a win-win deal between the surrogate mother and by setting up National Surrogacy Board at the the commissioning parents as well. The poor sur- Central level and State Surrogacy Board and Ap- rogate mother can utilize the money for the better- further & farther propriate Authorities in the States and Union Ter- ment of the family. Besides, a surrogate mother ritories. It is believed that the prospective Surro- gets an extra opportunity of going through a bat- gacy (Regulation) Act will not only regulate the tery of medical and clinical check-ups and experi- surrogacy in the country but also control the un- ments that she cannot afford owing to her limited ethical practices and prevent commercialization of financial capacity. surrogacy. The Act is supposed to prohibit poten- There is much room of doubt whether many wom- tial exploitation of surrogate mothers and children en, however close relatives would be agree to go born through surrogacy. Besides, infertile married through the painful process of surrogacy for nine couples who want to avail ethical surrogacy are months for the sake of altruism, without getting supposed not only be benefitted but also the rights pecuniary benefit. Needless to say, it will, thanks of surrogate mother and children born out of surro- to only altruistic surrogacy, not be an easy task for gacy be protected. Indian parents to find surrogate mother within such Needless to say, India has emerged as "surrogacy a limited sphere. Above all, the prospective Act hub" for couples from different countries. There prescribes that a close relative of the commission- have been reported incidents concerning exploita- ing parents, who is married or widowed and has at tion of surrogate mothers, abandonment of chil- least one healthy child, provided she does it only dren born out of surrogacy, rackets of intermediar- once in her life-time is entitled to be a surrogate. It ies importing human embryos and gametes. The will surely encumber the horizon of surrogacy. It Act will prohibit commercial surrogacy including may lead to another form of atrocity on women sale and purchase of human embryo and gametes. forcing the daughter-in-laws to be surrogate. Be- On the other hand, ethical surrogacy to the needy sides, the new Act bars unmarried couples, single infertile couples will be allowed on fulfillment of parents, homosexuals or live-in parents opting for certain conditions and for specific purpose. surrogacy depriving them of enjoying parenthood. The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 provides In a number of developed countries including U K, adequate protection for the rights of surrogate France, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Canada, Ja- “Where there is a will, there is way”. We all know about this old parents would do, especially, those who don't hail from the film mother and child as well. The incidents of aban- pan and New Zealand surrogacy is banned. There- saying, but quite a few people actually walk on these lines. And, background. Gradually, she too started liking it and in fact, she donment of girl child, children with disabilities, fore, countries like India and Thailand have be- Rima Das is one of them. As a one-woman army, she made a film, was immensely happy to see my films scaling new heights. one child in case of twin birth by commissioning come favorable destination for surrogacy and As- and took it to the soaring heights. She is determined, ardent and Did you face any discrimination as a woman in to film-making? parents are very common. Now this bill for the sisted Reproductive Technology (ART) that of- creative. The Team Saturday Fare met her during an event I never assisted anyone. I have not been to any film school. first time imposes criminal sanctions on the cou- fers artificial insemination, IVF and surrogacy. organized by FICCI FLO- Northeast Chapter, where she However, as a woman, generally, you always face discriminations. ple and the surrogate mother as well as on series of Many foreigners including NRIs who are desper- discussed about her journey from Chhaygaon (her native place) It is not just the direction, but in acting as well, you face it. Mostly, other stakeholders like intermediaries, doctors, and ate for having a biological child are flocking here for to Cannes Film festival. This avid reader, also loves to binge on men have the upper-hand. Most of the directors as well as the the clinical practitioners. The bill strongly impos- various reasons. Surrogacy in India is at least 10 paani-puri. Well, you will get to know more about her, through technicians are men. Basically, the number of women are very es prohibition and penal sanctions as close to a times cheaper than that of a developed country. this interaction. less, honestly speaking. When you are a newcomer, you face a lot stringent penalty given in case of rape and strin- Needless to say, from now the surrogacy business Tell us a bit about yourself. of problems. When I started directing, I felt that the patriarchy gent criminal offences that has been put in surroga- must face a great setback shifting to other coun- I started my primary education in my village in the Assamese thing exists. Luckily, this patriarchal format of thinking or male cy bill. The prospective Act will check many cases tries where commercial surrogacy is legal. medium, followed by higher secondary education in Chhayagaon chauvinism does not reflect from everyone, of course. of surrogacy out of fashion not necessity. Many Suffice it to say, surrogacy market is quite unre- College. Then I did my graduation from the Cotton College followed celebs out of caprice and fancies are hiring wombs strained in our country. Many surrogate mothers However, a few people have a sensible way of looking at things, of women to relieve their wives from undergoing by a masters degree from the University. I come from a very and they want to help you out. But in many cases, you don't see face a number of problems after being conceived labor pain. Therefore, in the new Act, as surrogacy due to extreme negligence and lack of necessary in their eyes that they trust you, you know. You don't see is banned for those couples having children either in their eyes that you are capable of doing something. So medical attention. As a result, the health of surro- biological or adopted, the trend will be prevented. gate mothers is in many cases at high risk. What is that is the only thing that I have gone through, nothing The flip sides of the Act cannot be ignored. As like other discrimination. You feel low, like they more appalling is that poor surrogate mothers are there is little scope of availing surrogate mothers found victims of greed and poverty. They even underestimate you a bit. However, not everyone is like due to various constraints implied in the Bill, it that because I have come so far and my male friends have lose the right of their own wombs. They are in may lead to indiscriminate black market of com- many cases forced to surrogate by the family mem- always been supportive. They are always supporting me mercial surrogacy in the name of altruism. Above even now. What I believe is that we girls should always bers and exploited by middlemen for money. Once all, the decision casts a mist of confusion in the the new Act is promulgated, their condition will be know our job and our goals. When you know your job, minds of those who are already in the process of then you can stand on your own. That's what I believe. between Scylla and Charybdis. surrogacy. Therefore, our government instead of disallowing How did you handle all the stages of filmmaking yourself? The new Surrogacy (Regulation) Act banning rent- surrogacy for foreigners and others and banning I started from scratch. From the early years, I wanted to ing a womb should not only be construed as Govt.'s commercial surrogacy should keep constant vigil pursue acting career and decided to go to Mumbai. Being interference in a woman's reproductive rights but on the evil sides of the market. Strict laws need to one of the best actresses in Assam, I realized that Mumbai also an impediment in the way of the last resort of be enacted and enforced to ensure proper medical was a different environment for me as I was not good at the people desperately craving for child. Accord- care of the surrogate mother and adoption of the Hindi and English. My struggles in Mumbai, at one point, ing to a number of surrogacy experts it is illogical surrogate child by the intended parents. To ampu- led to depression and lowered my confidence. But giving and unreasonable. What is more concerning is that tate a limb if not indispensible, is not the proper up wasn't my cup of tea. It was then that I fell in love with the Bill by banning egg donation has even aborted treatment of an ailment. movies and became passionate about it and decided to progressive family. My father is the founder and headmaster of a make movies on my own. At first, it was difficult for me to do high school. My mother is the first business woman in our village. things as I had never worked with the cameras and big movie set A FLASHBACK (ICONIC ACTRESS) ups. I learned the basic editing after making a short film, as it was We have our printing press and bookstall. She used to run them Lalita Pawar was visiting a film (1938). Be it historical, social, and the family. difficult for me to go to editors due to lack of resources and funds. I was interested to in old style movie making. I started watching Renowned as a studio with her mythological, tragedy, comedy, At what point of your life, you felt the inclination towards the film movies and YouTube videos to broaden up the knowledge. When I character actor, father. Lalita thriller or musical, serious or industry and thought about acting and directing? came to Assam to make my first film, I got the funds from my mother. Lalita Pawar took Pawar is best romance; Pawar acted in all We are born and brought up in an environment, which has the Indian film known for roles in genre of films skillfully. She always encouraged honing acting skills or performing arts industry by a storm hits like “Netaji was known as one of the most from the childhood itself. I used to act in school & college. I during its nascent Palkar”, “Sant beautiful ladies of the silent used to take part in other competitions as well. Just like that years. This leading Damaji”, “Amrit”, years. Despite suffering from I got inclined. Later on, I learned about film-making. I had no actor of the silent “Kumbhar” and facial paralysis for three years prior idea about film-making unlike acting because wherever era of Indian cinema “”. due to a slapping scene in the you go acting is always there. There were independent plays had an illustrious This leading lady movie “Jung-E-Azadi”, the and also mono-acting and I did it all till my college time. career that lasted was born as Amba determined lady went on to act for seven decades. Laxman Rao Sagun in movies until her last days till CMYK I was always interested. But later on, after doing my masters She worked in Hindi, Gujarati to merchant, Laxman Rao the age of from Pune University, as Mumbai was quite nearby, I went and Marathi cinema in over 700 Shagun on 18 April, 1916 in 82. there. In the beginning, it was in my mind that I will go there films. She was best known for . Her first marriage to Over the and join theatre groups and acting workshops. I just thought playing the role of the evil Ganpatro Pawar went downhill years, that I will learn and come back to Assam, and then I will do a matriarch, specially, the when he had liaisons with her this job and continue acting along with it. But I stayed back. Later mother-in-law. Her acting career younger sister. Later she mesmer- on, in Mumbai when I started watching world movies, then began at the tender age of nine married Rajprakash Gupta who izing only I felt an inner urge to get into direction so I got into it. with the film “Raja was the film producer of actress Was your family supportive of your decision to consider Harishchandra”. She was Ambika studios. Lalita Pawar from the filmmaking as your career? scouted when she insisted on was a multi-talented lady and silent era being photographed when she was much ahead of her times. received CMYK My mother, being concerned about my education, encouraged When her contemporary many me to study all the time and never allowed me to watch movies. women still were behind closed accolades I began watching more movies when I relocated to Bombay. When From the direction point of view, what are the elements that are doors, she gallantly navigated including the Filmfare Best I started watching movies from Europe, Middle East, & Korea, I necessary in making a film? through different areas of Supporting Actress Award realized that the Northeast India, including Assam is been blessed Firstly, as a director, you must understand your envisoned story cinema including production. (1959) for “Anari” and Sangeet with many stories, and varied cultures. That's why I came up with and you have to be utter clear about your story, about what you She, alongside acting, co- Natak Akademi Award (1961). the idea that it would be the best idea to start from my home are saying. First time, when you have decided about making a film, produced the silent movie, Lalita Pawar took her last ground. My mother didn't support me initially, as many concerned “Kailash” (1932) and produced breath on 24 February 1998 in Continued to page 20 the movie “Duniya Kya Hai” Aundh, Pune.

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