New Delhi: Movie buff Shikha Trivedi was at loss for words when she saw her favourite star Ranbir Kapoor flash his butt crack in Abhinav Kashyap's 'Besharam'. She had watched Ranbir flaunt his furry torso and doing string of weird things in the promos of the masala romantic comedy, but it was the brazenness with which he pulls his socks out of his crotch, bares his butt crack and strikes an erotic pose that left her shocked. Shikha, who had read about about how Bollywood commodifies women, wasn't sure if the industry also draws flak from audiences for objectifying men.
Agreed, men have to face the pressure to fit a certain mold, but how many of us are aware of it? We spoke to the popular faces from the showbiz industry and commoners for their reaction to how filmmakers and ad-makers use shirtless men, with sculpted arms and washboard abs, to woo women and end up commodifying them.
Objectification of men is not a new concept
Indian theater personality and ad filmmaker Alyque Padamsee, doesn't think the idea of male beauty has been highlighted by tall, lean and athletic Bollywood actors. As he puts it, this ideal image of men isn't a new phenomenon either. "If people think movies are objectifying men by showing them as tall, lean and of athletic built, let me tell you, these conceptions of male beauty have existed for centuries. Take a look at the Greek sculptures or those at Khajuraho, they are far more interesting than Ranbir's butt crack. If you have a beautiful body, show it. If you don't, don't show it. We all appreciate beauty, we all appreciate sex too. Those who say they don't appreciate sex, are hypocrites. I think the word 'objectify' is a misnomer. Indian viewers are far more sophisticated than they are perceived. They will accept men in such a form (the way Ranbir has been shown in the film). Kamasutra ad was far more explicit than Ranbir Kapoor's 'Besharam'."
Media professional Peden Doma Bhutia too echoes the same sentiment. "The objectification of women in films and ads has been going on for time immemorial, so when we discuss about the objectification of men in movies, the first reaction as a woman is that of vindication! In real life we do tend to objectify men, the whole idea of a tall, dark and handsome man is one such example, but perhaps the people making these films and ads tend to think that heaving bosoms can help them grab more eyeballs! John Abraham's derriere sent shockwaves across the nation, we need more such shockers for people to get used to the whole idea! Shoving socks inside one's pants for creating an "impression" is only taking it forward. Go, manpower, the women are all eyes!" she says.
Male models are used as ornaments, what's wrong with it?
Model-turned-actor Muzammil Ibrahim too doesn't deny objectification of men, but he believes it all boils down to how one thinks. "As models we are used as ornaments and I don't think there is any problem with that thought. As models, it is our job to look like sex gods, flaunt six pack abs, lure consumer to products and cater to someone's requirement," he explains. Like majority of us, Muzammil too doesn't get the rationale behind deodorant commercials which more often than not use raunchy content for a spurt in the sales figures. "I remember an ad wherein a man of 'chocolate' is chased by a horde of women and attacked as they try to bite him. Such racy content is used to make up for lack of creativity. Doesn't this show how low companies promoting such product can stoop to? It is a fact that this doesn't happen in reality. According to me, these companies are too dumb to think that women will lust after men under the influence of such deodorants," he adds.
How can men live up to unrealistic expectations Bollywood sets?
HR professional Saksham Gupta, who watched 'Besharam' recently, is aware of the ideal image of men girls drool over and feels there is a pressure on men to fit a certain mold. "Women speak a lot about being how they are objectified in Bollywood. But they often forget that men are also treated in the same manner. These women drool over shirtless actors and rue incessantly about not being able to find a similar man in real life. How will they, especially when they set unrealistic expectations which no man can live up to? It might sound funny, but men struggle with self-image, more than women. As men, it is more about how we believe others might see us," rues Saksham.
Salman Khan sans the shirt made women appreciate the male form
Ad man Prahlad Kakkar feels it was Salman Khan, who by going shirtless, started displaying the male body as a sexual object meant only for visual pleasure and satisfaction for drooling women, who'd gurgle and clap like kids each time he flaunted his buff body. "Salman Khan may have started it, but look what rest of the actors are doing these days. These actors are busy aping the Khan. Haven't you seen Ranveer Singh in 'Ram Leela'? Do woman really want such men? More than the women, it is their male counterparts who are eager to ape these stars. It is all about Indian men loving other men," he says.
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