Deeper Reflection Women in the Movie Siddharth Gupta

Deewar is an Indian cinema milestone that captures the essence of India during the 1970’s under the leadership of Indira Gandhi. Deewar represents an India that is starting to establish itself in the world and give meaning to the Indian Dream. The movie established Amitabh Bachan as a superstar and kick started a new generation of action and suspense movies. These are the reasons why Deewar has left an impact on South Asian entertainment to this day and why it is one of the greatest Bollywood films of all time.

One of the most interesting elements of Deewar is its portrayal and role of women in the film. The movie cements the idea that Indian culture and Indian civilization has always had a substratum of matriarchy. The mother in the movie is the perfect example of how powerful women are the backbones of Indian society. It could be argued that no more important or poignant relationship exists in Indian society than that between mother and son, and Deewar best exemplifies the significance of this nexus. Deewar makes two very important statements about women in India and around the world at the time. It first shows the full capability of women and why they are so important, highlighting the great aspects of women and why they are just as important as men. Secondly, it tackles the issue of presenting women in an independent, autonomous, non-spouse and non-mother role.

It is important to analyze the two types of women shown in the film: the typical caring mother/wife, and the young single free thinker. This break in the feminine model sets up a societal struggle to how women should be portrayed. The mother is the archetypal, suffering, pure, good lady. Veera (Police Chief’s daughter) is the good middle class girl that expresses her love for Ravi by bringing him flowers to the railway station. But these women are in sharp contrast to Anita who displays characteristics not associated with “good” women because for example she spends her time at bars in the evening. Yet, despite these differences, all three women are there to further define the males characters and their internal conflicts. This is particularly true for Anita. She receives gifts from Vijay even though he is a self-enclosed and aloof person. One aspect that distinguishes Anita from the other women is that she is shown as independent. Anita is bereft of a narrative that tells us anything about her life — why she drinks, why she is unhappy — but she is at least presented as an autonomous woman. She is in control of her own sexuality, sleeping with the man she chooses without marrying him (striking for a 70s film) and has the confidence to raise a child independent of her lover. She tells Vijay she will not "force him to marry her" when she finds out she is pregnant. This is why Deewar makes such a big impact on women in the 1970’s. This film swayed from cultural norms and opened up ways women could express themselves.

            Finally, women are given a high and important role in this film. All three women are shown as important support structures to the men in their lives. The mother to her two sons and husband, Anita to Vijay, and Veera to Ravi. Women are placed as equals to their male counterparts and are shown to be just as important in society. This role is best shown by the mother. She fights through adversity, feeds her children when they have nothing, preserveers to give one child education, and in general provide the most she can. She goes above and beyond what society expected out of her, and that is why she is great. This importance of women especially the mother is highlighted in the confrontation scene between Vijay and Ravi. Vijay says: "I have a bungalow, a car, wealth, good clothes to wear. What do you have? What do you have besides a measly job, a uniform, a mere roof over your head?" This is a dramatic moment, for by this time it has been established what is at stake; and thus Ravi can look Vijay squarely in the face, and say with immense pride: "I have mother" (Mere Pas Ma Hai). This one single line has echoed throughout Indian cinema because of how important and true it is. Women and mothers are the foundation and backbone of society, and without them, the world would not be the same.

            Deewar fundamentally changed how women were looked at in Indian society. Yes, the movie was monumental because of its great acting, superb storyline, and intense action scenes, but the portrayal of women claws at the chains of how women are “supposed” to be. It can be argued that women were still shown to be caregivers and not as high achieving as males, but nonetheless, this movie took a step forward in the fight for females.