The first time I saw Vidya Balan was in a song ‘Kabhi Aana Tu Meri Gully’ by the Delhi
based band Euphoria almost ten years ago. First, I wondered how such a ‘humble’
looking girl with a whitish complexion and a built that was on the heavier side
could be the lead model in top band’s song.
But then going by the theme of the video of a love story in a
typical Indian mohalla featuring the girl next door and a simpleton hardworking
boy, I was somewhat pacified because she actually suited that character.
And soon she hit the big screen with Vidhu Vinod Chpra’s Parineeta
in 2005 forcing me to sit up and take notice. Though I did not watch the movie
but the teasers and the pre-release interviews were enough to give birth to
strong disliking towards Balan.
Reason?
I couldn’t fathom the reasons behind her sudden appearance on the
red carpet. I mean she wasn’t fair like Kareena Kapoor or had a figure like
Priyanka Chopra. How could she get a film?
The first movie of hers’ that I saw was Lagey Raho Munnabhai and
to be honest my disliking was gradually turning into hatred. I did not like the
way she looked, talked, acted or danced.
Over the years as her career graph went north, so did my hatred.
Finally it was after watching the 2009 movie ‘Paa’ that I decided that it was
enough. Paa was a pathetic movie and defied any kind of logic.
Her portrayal of the character of the abla nari raising a child
alone did not work for me and I decided not to watch any of her movies again.
That was until 2011 when the promos of The Dirty Picture came out.
Though titillating for many I found them vulgar and joked with my friends that
rather than seeing Balan dance in the rain I shall go to a village in Gurgaon
and see the buffaloes bathing in a pond.
However, last Saturday I downloaded the movie for one of my
colleagues and forgot to delete from my pen drive. So Monday being my weekly
off I was watching the IPL highlight late Sunday night and around 2 a.m. I was
done with watching TV and surfing the net.
In no mood of dozing off, I decided to watch a movie but had
nothing new to watch. Then I remembered that The Dirty Picture was still in my
pen drive and I don’t know what came over me but I decided to watch it.
Half an hour into the movie I could so relate to the character
of Emran Hashmi’s – ABRAHAM who loathed Reshma aka Balan for the way she looked
and what she did.
I would chuckle in joy whenever Hashmi ridiculed Balan
especially when he said “Yeh Moti Banegi Heroine?” I was in splits.
But as the movie progressed I saw Reshma’s other side which had
a very uncanny resemblance to
Balan’s real life story.
A fat, whitish and average looking girl trying to make it big in
the world of mainstream Indian cinema where without good looks, you could only
end up playing the heroine’s best friend’s sister at best.
However, going by the preferences of Indians down south, who are
dark skinned and like big boned girls, Reshma’s journey was a cakewalk when
compared to Balan’s journey in Bollywood.
To make a mark in commercial films when competing with the likes
of the Kareenas and Katreenas is no small achievement.
People like Balan are a beacon of hope for many average Indian
women who look average, may wear a suit but have a modern perspective on
things. They don’t starve themselves to death to attain that Zero figure bullshit.
Balan proves to them that if they don’t want to they don’t have to.
I guess for so many years I was thinking what the people in Bollywood
wanted me to think about the ideal Indian heroine. But screw you I say. Bring
it on Balan, I am ready for more… much more.
P.S. Come to think of it, I relate to Hashmi’s charater even
more now because when the movie began we were on the same side—Balan/Reshma
haters but when the curtains came down, Abraham fell in love with her and me on
the other hand became a strong admirer of her.
