Bollywood's White Ladies!

I have always wanted to write about Bollywood's "white" ladies. I find it extremely subjective, and beyond reason that Bollywood has been using Caucasian women as background dancers. I find it hard to comprehend as to how Caucasian ladies help form the narratives (by just being back-up dancers)? That too in a country where not even 1% of the population identifies itself as Caucasian!

Just the other day I stumbled upon a clip of Big Boss 7, where a Swedish participant complains about a male participant poking fun at her by asking her to wear a bikini. She replies (emotionally), if it was an Indian girl he wouldn't have dared (to say it). 

Fair enough, Bollywood is growing and everyone wants a piece of it. Many Russian, Romanian, Eastern European and Central Asian women flock to Bollywood to work in the ever-growing industry. I am not concerned about their employment in the Indian cinema but more so the message it produces about White women (to the viewers). 

I stopped watching Bollywood movies a long time back. It is not because I have anything against them ethically or morally. I for one reason, cannot stand a 50 year old man dancing like a maniac, while thinking it is cool to do so. I believe Bollywood movies are for entertainment, but certainly not for the intellect. It is the same reason that I do not watch many Hollywood movies too. I resort myself to either critically-acclaimed cinema or World Cinema made on a limited budget. 

 Don't get me wrong! There are films that are good and have made a difference to the Indian cinema but I am talking of the genre in its contemporary sense. Having said that, (occasionally) sitting at an Indian restaurant or at someone's house I do get a glimpse of them.  And whenever I do I cant help but wonder what is the role of these white women in the background.

Do these women suggest that the accompanying man (in the dance numbers) is so "hot" that even the exotic would fall for him? Or do they suggest that white women are only good for a "bit-of-fun" and dance? It is hard to decontextualize. I  sincerely hope that someone from Bollywood would actually come out and reason it out for me. 

Meanwhile the opposing question remains; Would it be socially (or culturally) acceptable for us to see Indian/Pakistani/Desi girls dancing on Swedish shows (wearing hot-pants and making sexual moves)?

In a typical Bollywood narrative, a woman often takes the supporting role of a male protagonist. He is the man who fights the bad guy. I suppose if he does manage to earn a bit of support from his white female friends then why not! 

On the contrary, if "women-centric" films are made then they are applauded. It is also mentioned that Bollywood is changing (and improving). Some of the recent examples are films like Kahani, and The Dirty Film. That done and dusted, it is again back to the same old narrative; Dabang, Chennai Express, and Rowdy Rathore are some of the recent examples. In Bollywood, women in general have little rights let alone Caucasian women (It is not like they are bothered anyway). 

I have a friend who is blonde, she once went to India on a missionary trip. Being a blonde, she was openly made sexual-advancements to. Her brunette friend was not as affected. When she asked her Indian friend, she was told that blonde women are usually seen in adult movies (porn). Hence, the perception of them in India is of "lose-character". When she told me that I was only certain that Bollywood also had a part-to-play in reinforcing the stereotype.

 When a dance number begins, (almost instantly out of nowhere) these fit, sexy and good-looking Caucasian women appear. Unavoidably, you notice that these women are so "sexually-motived".  It is as if, they are giving away their sexuality-on-a-platter to the lead man. 

I am aware that many would counter-argue by suggesting that it is just for entertainment. It is really this kind of entertainment, that has encouraged me from watching Bollywood movies. I long for the (kind-of) cinema made in the times of Hrishikesh Mukherjee, Gulzar and Benegal. At that time, the Indian cinema was not called Bollywood either!