Whistling Woods makes film on women empowerment post Delhi rape case

Campaign goes viral with 1 million plus views within a week around the world

BestMediaInfo Bureau | Mumbai | December 27, 2013

Click on the image to watch the film.

Whistling Woods International, an institute for studies in film, media and fashion, released a YouTube video exactly a year after the horrific rape case in Delhi. In June 2013, the students of Whistling Woods International celebrated 100 years of Indian cinema through film screenings, free workshops and master classes. At the closing ceremony Shabana Azmi commissioned alumni Ketan Rana to direct a film on Women Empowerment.

The film shows four scenarios where women are subjected to the ever-pervasive male gaze while going about their daily lives, whether talking with friends or just riding the bus. But then a reflective surface, be it sunglasses or a necklace, turns these gazes back towards the men.

The film is both very realistic and uncomfortable, with its portrayal of men staring at young women. The message that it communicated is 'You look ridiculous and creepy, and we can see you.' The idea is to showcase how too often, not just in India but all over the world, it seems that men looking at women in public places somehow think they are watching a display, as though women exist on a television screen. When, of course, in reality, women can see the people staring at them, and those stares can make women feel not only uncomfortable and objectified, but downright unsafe.

Meghna Ghai Puri, President, Whistling Woods International, said, “I am extremely proud of Ketan to have had a thought to create a campaign on women empowerment. Films are the most powerful medium to get across to society and I am positive ads such as these will change the perspective towards Public service ads.”

Ketan Rana, who is a Direction Alumni of Whistling Woods, said, “On December 16 last year, when the country was shaken after the terrible incident of the Nirbhaya rape case, everyone was debating whether the rapist should be hanged or imprisoned till death. I couldn't help but think of how we can prevent this from happening again. So, as a filmmaker I decided to make a film which focused on the root cause. I am thankful to my alma mater WWI for helping me with this mission. It happens very rarely to a filmmaker when he doesn't find a story but the story finds him. This is one of those stories. As the saying goes 'eyes are windows to the soul'. Similarly, I feel 'male gaze mirrors morality of a society'. I decided to share this thought through a public service film.”

The film:

https://img-cdn.thepublive.com/filters:format(webp)/

Info@BestMediaInfo.com

Info@BestMediaInfo.com