Bad Girl joins the ‘bad film’ category?

The Tamil film Bad Girl has found itself at the centre of a controversy after the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court ordered the Central Government to remove its teaser from all social media platforms within a month. The court’s decision came in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that claimed that the teaser contained obscene content involving minors.

In India, Bad Girl joins a long list of Indian films and series that have faced public outrage, censorship and institutional pushback simply for exploring female desire, autonomy, and rebellion against patriarchy.

Backlash for Veere

In 2018, Veere Di Wedding, directed by Shashanka Ghosh, sparked outrage over a masturbation scene featuring a female character. The film, which focused on female friendships and the pressure of marriage, was heavily trolled online, leading to slut-shaming and backlash.

No S word please!

In 2017, S Durga, originally titled Sexy Durga, faced backlash for hurting Hindu sentiments. Directed by Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, the film explored gender dynamics, but the controversy surrounding it led to its removal from the Indian Panorama section at the IFFI.

Cut to size?

Alankrita Shrivastava’s Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016) ruffled feathers. Its exploration of female sexuality, desire and the push-pull between hijab and modernity led the CBFC to deny it a certificate, calling it “lady-oriented” with “sexual scenes”

Daring portrayal

Leena Yadav’s Parched (2015), set in rural India, showcased bold scenes involving female pleasure and autonomy. It started a debate for its daring portrayal of women in traditionally restrictive environments.

Marginalized identities

Margarita with a Straw (2014), directed by Shonali Bose, offered an exploration of bisexuality and disability through a protagonist with cerebral palsy. The film faced censorship over queer intimacy and masturbation scenes.

Playing with fire!

The most landmark controversy dates back to Fire (1996), Deepa Mehta’s film about lesbian love and women trapped in traditional roles. The characters – Sita and Radha and themes provoked violent protests from right-wing groups and was briefly withdrawn, only to be re-released later.

Lifestyle