Veteran actor Shabana Azmi has voiced strong concerns about the portrayal of women in Bollywood item songs. During the interaction, the ‘Dabba Cartel’ actor spoke about how cinema influences society and shapes public perception.The actress shared her views during a discussion at the We the Women event in Mumbai. Shabana believes the visual language used in the item numbers often reduces women to objects that are meant to satisfy the male gaze.
Concerns over the male gaze in cinema
Speaking about how item songs are shot, Shabana Azmi explained that the camera’s focus and framing can influence how audiences perceive women on screen. She said, “Cinema is defined by the image. So when you have disconnected images, like, for example, a heaving bosom or shaking navel, you cut them into fragments, and how the camera moves around the body is what decides what the intention of the director is. I feel in an item number, a woman loses all control and surrenders to the male gaze.”According to the actor, this style of visual storytelling fragments the female body, and instead of presenting the performer as a character, it often highlights specific body parts to create a certain effect. She suggested that such portrayals shape how viewers interpret the role of women in cinema.
Actor finds lyrics and themes troubling
Shabana Azmi also spoke about the lyrics commonly used in many item songs. She said that the language and themes in some tracks contribute to the problem and expressed strong discomfort with the way certain songs portray women. She said, “So she is objectifying herself, and some of the lyrics which she is singing… I find it extremely, extremely uncomfortable, and I disagree with it. A lot of women say that if males can do it, then why shouldn’t we do it? But if the males are willing to get objectified, why should you agree to get objectified?”According to her, such performances often detach themselves from the story of the film. Instead, they function as standalone attractions meant to grab attention.She added, “I have a very big problem with that, and most of the time it has nothing to do with the story. It is a thing by itself.”
Concerns about society’s reaction
Another aspect that concerns Shabana Azmi is the way audiences react to these songs in everyday life, as she pointed out that many people enjoy the tunes without paying attention to their meaning.The actor mentioned that such songs are frequently played at public gatherings and celebrations. “What then worries me is the society’s reaction to it, because then you go to these functions and there are little children singing ‘Choli ke Peeche kya hain’, and everyone is laughing at them. Nobody is paying attention to the words and are just going with it.” The reference was to the popular track Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai, which became widely known after its release.According to Shabana Azmi, such situations show how easily lyrics can become normalized without deeper reflection.On the professional front, Shabana Azmi’s previous outing was the thriller series ‘Dabba Cartel.’
