This is a post long due... and might have lost its significance with a significant passage of time since the release of the movie... anyways, guess I'll give it a try and vent out some of my feelings and reactions!!!
Needless to say... the movie was well picturized and typecasted... had beautiful and artistic cinematography.. a bit different from the tastes of characterisitic bollywood cinema but still good. Of course, those who have seen might agree and the critiques might differ!
The definition of 'geisha' as stated in Merriam Webster online dictionary says "a Japanese girl or woman who is trained to provide entertaining and lighthearted company especially for a man or a group of men".. however those who have seen the movie know that this was not the case .. and this prompted me to write this piece.
We can draw similar parallel in the Indian society .. where there were women were supposed to entertain men in a gathering... (particularly, "tawaif" who were supposed to earn patronage and support by practise their art and not by prostituting themselves) .. however, whats supposed to be and whats true are different!
Interestingly, strikingly similar is the case with 'Geishas' who though supposed to practice art.. but occasionally are forced to do prostitution to eke out a living.
Now, a few doubts arise in my mind... one how is the situation in the two cases (there may be more in other societies which i am not aware of) similar.. is it because of a traditional male dominant society with the women being dependent for their needs and livelihood .. and being treated as material entities by the society? Secondly, parallels need to be cited in other societies .. otherwise it could mean a negative portrayal of Asian / mid-east / oriental cultures :-) .. and finally how come the names "vaishya" and "geisha" sound similar .. any more connection than a figure of speech?
P.S. Comments invited... and the movie is worth seeing!
Needless to say... the movie was well picturized and typecasted... had beautiful and artistic cinematography.. a bit different from the tastes of characterisitic bollywood cinema but still good. Of course, those who have seen might agree and the critiques might differ!
The definition of 'geisha' as stated in Merriam Webster online dictionary says "a Japanese girl or woman who is trained to provide entertaining and lighthearted company especially for a man or a group of men".. however those who have seen the movie know that this was not the case .. and this prompted me to write this piece.
We can draw similar parallel in the Indian society .. where there were women were supposed to entertain men in a gathering... (particularly, "tawaif" who were supposed to earn patronage and support by practise their art and not by prostituting themselves) .. however, whats supposed to be and whats true are different!
Interestingly, strikingly similar is the case with 'Geishas' who though supposed to practice art.. but occasionally are forced to do prostitution to eke out a living.
Now, a few doubts arise in my mind... one how is the situation in the two cases (there may be more in other societies which i am not aware of) similar.. is it because of a traditional male dominant society with the women being dependent for their needs and livelihood .. and being treated as material entities by the society? Secondly, parallels need to be cited in other societies .. otherwise it could mean a negative portrayal of Asian / mid-east / oriental cultures :-) .. and finally how come the names "vaishya" and "geisha" sound similar .. any more connection than a figure of speech?
P.S. Comments invited... and the movie is worth seeing!
2 comments:
Geisha = art-person
Vaishya = Yellow
also read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geisha
They were originally male, apparantly.
Agreed.. but my description is based on what the movie portrays .. and I assume that would be true!
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