With the drastic reduction in shot durations and a replacement of choreography that we might want to copy, with choreography we can only marvel at, the role of dance in Hindi movies has been altered.
I think one very important that has been missed out, deliberately or otherwise, in this newsletter, is the objectification of women in "dance item numbers". It is also very interesting to notice that happens with only actresses or female dancers, never their male counterparts. As if, to suggest that women don't want to see men dancing with minimal clothes and their well-built bulging bodies. And also, if the creepy, vulgar or sexist lyrics of these unattractive, in all senses, has something to do with that objectification or not.
You're very right! There's a lot to be said about not just the sexism but also the limits of respectability. In the 40s, the dancer Sadhona Bose would get top billing. But her Anglo Indian contemporary Azurie wouldn't. Same thing for Helen. There's the whole rigmarole around Bollywood making Kathak and Mujra the same, likening Kathak to sex work and Bharatnatyam to purity. There's a lot to be said. I haven't found the flow, yet.
I think one very important that has been missed out, deliberately or otherwise, in this newsletter, is the objectification of women in "dance item numbers". It is also very interesting to notice that happens with only actresses or female dancers, never their male counterparts. As if, to suggest that women don't want to see men dancing with minimal clothes and their well-built bulging bodies. And also, if the creepy, vulgar or sexist lyrics of these unattractive, in all senses, has something to do with that objectification or not.
You're very right! There's a lot to be said about not just the sexism but also the limits of respectability. In the 40s, the dancer Sadhona Bose would get top billing. But her Anglo Indian contemporary Azurie wouldn't. Same thing for Helen. There's the whole rigmarole around Bollywood making Kathak and Mujra the same, likening Kathak to sex work and Bharatnatyam to purity. There's a lot to be said. I haven't found the flow, yet.