Toxic Masculinity Packaged as Romance
Sona Mohapatra is not one to stay silent, and this time she’s taking aim at the ongoing controversy around Janhvi Kapoor’s portrayal in the Telugu film Peddi. In a candid video recorded on her way to the Kashish Film Festival, the singer called out the industry’s lazy habit of reducing heroines to mere decoration. “The hero always lives a dignified life. And the heroine is just an extension of that story. Decoration to be sexualized, objectified,” she said, adding that toxic masculinity is often repackaged as romance on screen.
Mohapatra didn’t mince words about the filmmaking formula. “Disrespect becomes swagger. Some low motion shots, some strategic camera angles, the heroine’s ‘look me, look me, look me’ type of clothes, loud background music. We know the deal,” she said, pointing out how misogyny often wins at the box office. But this time, something different happened — the audience fought back.
Audiences Finally Holding Filmmakers Accountable
The singer expressed relief and hope over the public backlash against Peddi. “In the last few days, one thing has given me a strange relief. In our heavily promoted mainstream film, the backlash against the portrayal of the heroine has given me some hope and optimism,” she shared. Mohapatra noted that filmmakers have been forced to give interviews claiming the character is innocent and that certain scenes will be removed. Yaar, that’s a win for the audience.
She believes people are finally connecting the dots between on-screen objectification and real-world violence against women. “Whether it’s stalking or teasing, the news that comes every day, children’s rape, domestic violence. And I guess people are connecting how such films influence attitudes and behaviors in society,” she said. Mohapatra slammed the laziness of writers who rely on patriarchal tropes instead of crafting well-developed female characters. “Delete the heroine’s agency from the screenplay. It will be a massacre.”
A Sign of a Better Society?
Drawing a parallel with the Kashish Film Festival, which she was heading to, Mohapatra celebrated independent cinema that tells real stories. “Kashish is still continuing. Year after year, despite not having these kinds of budgets, star power or machinery that this kind of bullshit mainstream cinema in India enjoys. And I’m so proud and thankful for that,” she said. The festival, which showcased over 150 films from 40 countries, represents courage and authenticity to her.
Mohapatra ended on a hopeful note, saying she’d like to believe audiences — queer, straight, young, old — will eventually connect with truth over propaganda. “Maybe we will demand better stories, better women characters. Is it possible? And maybe all this is a sign that we are becoming a better society. I would like to think so.” Kya baat hai, Sona — we’re with you on this one.