Unnecessary demonising and redefining of feminism in Tamil movies these days

Watched Sivakartikeyan's Velaikaran. The movie took an unnecessary dig at feminism and women empowerment - it's becoming a trend to demonise feminism and indoctrinate the definition of 'true feminism' by Tamil guys ascertaining that sexism, stereotype and patriarchal culture are intact in their definition in Tamil films, telling women what is ok and not ok for them to do under the umbrella of feminism.

Nayanthara says on TV, so what if women drink and smoke, if guys can do that, so can girls. And guys will revolt outside her hostel - asking whether she can give company when boozing.

Sivakartikeyan will scold her on his slum radio - idhellam dhan women empowerment ah nu.

To make a long story short, Sivakartikeyan puts a clip on Facebook on how Nayanthara was misquoted and how the TV had sabotaged her into professing 'false feminism'. Nayan says in the original clip that we know our limits in women empowerment. Everyone praises her and the guys who asked her to give company apologise and now call her sister.

Watching all these reminded me of Neeya Naana Namithaa trolls - these guys didn't change but their mindset only had festered. For these guys, if women play by their version of feminism, it's sister, if not, item.

You know what's women empowerment? It's the realisation that women are flawed, susceptible to wrongdoings human beings with the same capabilities and capacity as men. I was 13 when I tried smoking and I didn't even hear of feminism then. I was also ambitious and very competitive, climbed trees with my cousin brothers and I didn't know what is women empowered back then - I was worrying about homework, exams, growing boobs and attention from boys.

Neil Degrasse Tyson says, "You don't need to get kids interested in science. They are already interested in science. You're the problem." Similarly, you don't need to define what's women empowerment. Women empowerment is human empowerment. You're the problem. I was curious on how smoking would feel and was experimenting - I didn't do it coz guys were doing it or because that's women empowerment. I did it to know how it feels. I didn't like it so I didn't smoke again. If I liked it, I would have. It's a matter of curiosity & preference, not feminism and feminists asking the right to drink and smoke.

My guy friend who went overseas to study had started drinking beer. I asked him whether he likes the taste and he told me it tastes yucky. I asked him why does he drink if he doesn't like the taste and he was like, "Are you crazy? Girls here drink like a fish and if I don't drink, it will be a major embarrassment." You see the faces of some guys drinking and the way they drink. They finish the drink in big gulps, cringing all the way. That countenance doesn't seem to show that they are fond of what they drink - these guys drink not because they like it but because of the social stereotype that as men, they must drink and women shouldn't drink - this goes on to define their version of feminism, note, Thani Oruvan dialogue.

And, please, please, don't call us sister after asking will you give company for boozing. Boozing or not boozing, smoking or not smoking, respect a human's choice and see women as people, not as sister, mother, goddess, angels and pure. You don't call men god, gold, diamond, pearl do you? You accept that men are people - it's time to treat women as people.

If a woman drinks, you ask her nee yellam oru pombalaya? If a man doesn't drink, you ask him nee yellam oru ambalaya? Don't. Respect the choices of adult men and women especially if the choices don't harm you and the environment and aren't against civil laws. What adults do with their health and life is personal - there are quit smoking clinics and AA and if anyone wants to kick the habit, they can join them. They have the right to decide what to do as adults. Our job is to respect that human right.

You want to talk about 'limits in women empowerment?' Reminds me of the guy who said to me that I talk too much women empowerment and that it's not good. Limits to women empowerment isn't women not smoking and drinking and doing all the 'ambala pandra thappu.' The only limit to women empowerment is adherence to impartial civil laws because women are civilians. When women flout the law and commit crimes, they should be punished equally as men. No privileges. No mercy. And, you can't gender tag thappu.

It would be great if Tamil movies quit picking on feminism to feed the skewed mind and insecurity of Tamil boys especially when it's irrelevant to the story line. I suggest Tamil boys slant more to science, history, philosophy and rationalism rather than immersing themselves in raunchy stuff and then define feminism and women empowerment for the rest of us women and harp on how wearing dupatta is culture while being Aunty Veriyan. Trust me, when you study different subjects like the Civil Rights Movement, you get fresh perspectives on feminism and a keen sense of justice. The movie Hidden Figures shook me to the core.

A Nachiyaar review I read criticises Jyothika for not having 'basal womanly qualities." I have come across umpteenth people sputtering about caring and motherly nature innate in women <I Roll My Eyeballs>. Hello, the first nursing school had only males and it was in India. Florence Nightingale is a stereotyped illusion.

20 years since Padayappa's release and Sivakartikeyan is perpetuating the same shit.

If you must portray feminism and women empowerment in Tamil movies, instead of playing by the socially spiked Overton window in the case of Aruvi, Iraivi and Mayakkam Enna, showcase women as people who are human as men and don't persecute them for being human thus faulty and not have the hero telling the woman how she should be.