But Neha, you seriously don’t like Mr India anymore? It’s such a lovely movie, I can watch it any number of times! Wonder if I could write a retro review of it for HT…

Jabberwockji: Pranaam

Precisely. Look at the context – the review of a movie. Not the fourth page of a soft-p0rn mag. There is something so trivial in the way that reviewers handle female actors. I didn’t say it was the wrong thing to do – merely, that I find it offensive. I didn’t say he should be punished for it – but I do think it reflects something far deeper. He has the right to say it – it’s just so pathetic that he has to say something like that. That’s all.

Consent sometimes is not asked for or is taken as a given, for eros is also about transgression. If this is acceptable or not is determined more or less, based on the setting and context in which an erotic encounter takes place – an enormous range. More importantly, the intent to spank is not equal to spanking. And we well know, intent can’t be legislated.

I don’t want to judge what people find erotic and what they don’t – however, in my books – finding something erotic is entirely different from it becoming erotic – the latter is determined by mutual consent. He doesn’t say “And if she’s game for it, would like to spank her.”

Jabberwockji: Actually he was insulting people with mental illnesses under the guise of mocking Esha Deol. Some of us are more sensitive about one thing or the other. For instance what if the statement had been –
“is less [insert traditional religion stereotype] than Esha Deol”
“is less [insert specific caste name look] than Esha Deol”
“is less [race characteristic] than Esha Deol”
Different things offend us. I think in India our exposure to people with mental illnesses is so low, that we don’t even consider them as people. I understand your point of view – but like I said – I found it offensive. I don’t expect anyone else to agree.

And Neha, sorry to go on and on, but I don’t think the reviewer was mocking mental illnesses and conditions. I think he was just mocking Esha Deol. Which everyone should do occasionally.

P.S. From here on I insist everyone refer to me as “Jabberwockji”.

antha Aditya enna namma Jabberwock oda mama payyana? illa nee enna Ebert oda onnu viita sithhi ponna? velaya parunga pa…