Glorifying violence in the name of love is neither romantic nor justified. It is high time that Bollywood understands this.
It is very common these days, when we watch any romantic Bollywood movie, there is violence which is shown as a part of love. The films want to depict that being violent is one way of justifying your love towards your partner. The male protagonist through violence tries to earn the trust of the girl’s parents. They try to sell abuse and love as a package. And yet, many people, including women, have loved these films.
Such films glorify violence as love, if there is violence there is love and a little bit of violence is considered appropriate in love relationships. Forcing your partner to wear specific clothes, behave in a particular way, drink and hit, does this sounds like true love? Slap is an expression of the male protagonist’s love for the girl and the power of masculinity.
Violence as a part of love has become the major theme and has dominated cinema screens since the arrival of films in the late 19th century. Character analysis of the leading roles indicates that females in mainstream Indian cinema are mostly projected in submissive roles.
Bollywood films are likely to play a vital role in transmitting the patterns of conduct and defining role models. Researchers have argued that incessant and excessive exposure to
on-screen violence often leads to antisocial and aggressive behaviour. Most people, especially children, learn and adopt the behaviour, and follow striking role models, both in the real and in the media.
This generation who binge watches such movies showcasing violence and love together has started taking it in a positive way. Youngsters find such kind of content interesting and their attitudes are getting influenced by these movies. A woman is an object for the active male gaze.
This glorifying of violence in love has affected our lives, especially of the youth of this generation. More feminists are realising that this violence against women in the name of love is not justified. But still, our movies have not just normalised but portrayed violence in the name of love as intense love.
Popular Mainstream Movies Justifying Violence as Love
Bollywood movies have not just normalised but portrayed violence in the name of love as powerful, intense love. Violence simply does not mean physical violence. Stalking in itself is an act of violation. Whether it is Ranjhanaa or Kabir Singh, cult popular movies of Bollywood usually revolve around the plot where the male lead stalks the girl.
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1. Kabir Singh (2019)
The Very popular blockbuster movie which was extremely loved by the audience for its acting and its music was equally hated by the audience for its portrayal of violence as love.
The primary problem with Kabir Singh is that it romanticizes male anger issues and despicable treatment of people around him, especially his girlfriend. For some, it was just a normal film. But for women, it was a nightmarish dystopia.
Source: Zee5
2. Ranjhanaa (2013)
The movie which once gained love from the audience for the love story, the main character and the music, is now not acceptable by the audience as a love story. The reason is the toxic portrayal of love.
Raanjhanaa is one of the most popular Bollywood movies, often known for its selfless love story but it’s nothing but the glorification of stalking, eve-teasing, harassment and pretty much everything wrong with a patriarchal society. The movie is an open invitation to stalking.
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3. Tere Naam(2003)
The film was considered to be an epic love story at the time of its release. Lead actor Salman Khan's fans went crazy watching him on screen but now if we look at the story, Salman Khan's character was not a perfect lover, in fact, he was a toxic person who believed in obsessive love.
This film portrays obsessive love which leads to a shift in his physical appearance, leading toward self-destruction. The performance of the male character depicts “angromance” (a term for “angry romance”).
In all of these movie plots, no consent has been taken. Women characters are not allowed to say no and are used. Male characters are portrayed as superior, and full of power. This misogyny has been for years and it will continue to be glorified. Women are the object of the male gaze.
Gender violence is being normalized in popular culture. Movies typically show love stories with candle-lit dinners, romantic proposals and what not? But, this love is also shown as even more violent and passionate. Violence has become one way of expressing love.
Written by: Prabhveet Kaur
Edited by: Nidhi Jha
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