Casting Couch

The views expressed here are explicitly of the author only and does not reflect any one else's stance except that of the author's.Any suggestions and comments are highly welcome and kindly mail them to the author at : vivek@vivekthakur.com

24th10th April, 2005

Though I completely support the intent of the sting operation carried out by India TV, spilling the beans regarding casting couch, I want to bring out two facets of the same issue.

First : some people are condemning the whole operation, saying that its a personal matter and no one has the right to interfere in the private life of others. On that basis, an act of a government babu accepting a bribe should be considered as a private transaction happening due to the mutual consent of both the parties, as both the payer and the bribe taker have their 'personal' interests in that transaction!
According to director Sawant Kumar Tak's words:".. how can the media tresspass into private spaces? What the channel has done is wrong." Many might ask him what if his sister was a victim of casting couch? Would he still feel the same? Wouldn't he like to expose those who take unfair advantage of their position to extract sexual benefits from innocent girls? This question is not only to him but to each and every person who feels the channel has done wrong.
The American media did not spare their President, and Indian media has done no wrong in exposing such wolves in the entertainment industry.

Face off : The Channel did its job in bringing out the harsh realities of the glam world but it is upto people to decide what is right and wrong. What people don't understand is that the basic Darwinian theory of survival of the fittest rules every aspect of life. If a girl thinks that she should give in to physical advances of her seniors, it is her decision and she has already decided to move ahead and do a compromise. Others might say this is wrong and un ethical, but who are they to decide? If a person wants success and she is entertaining her seniors and both the parties are happy then no other person can say that they are "wrong". She is not doing any crime, nor is she hurting the interests of any other person. Taking a bribe is different case as it is an obvious crime. But if a person gives in to sexual advances willingly, then no authority can label it as an act warranting punishment of any nature.
So we need to draw the line to distinguish bewteen what is personal and what was forced. Repeated non-physical pressurising and verbal forcing cannot be termed as an a criminal act and if someone becomes weak and gives in to such advances then the onus lies on that person only. We have to learn to use our own minds and take decisions. We can't blame others for coercing us to an actg which we do not like.