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Not in the Pink of Health

Saw the latest Hindi film "Pink" that is making waves with its powerful message of a woman's "NO meaning NO". What a powerful film with a super strong message of women's empowerment!

The film shows its three leading ladies as flawed, real, erring persons, who made the grave mistake of befriending some louts who later try to act fresh with them. The girls are harassed in all ways possible and later dragged to court by these hoodlums. They manage to fight their case with the help of a maverick lawyer, and emerge victorious, though shaken after some ruthless questioning on their morals and characters.

The film reflects reality both in the form of the attitude of the average man on the street and the new generation woman, who is not afraid to mix, laugh, and share a drink with strangers. The boys feel that the girls have invited trouble for themselves with their clothes and behaviour. That, unfortunately, is the general mindset of most men in India, however modern they may claim themselves to be. The girls' lawyer challenges these notions and asks some scathing questions in court. Why are there separate rules for men and women? What is acceptable for men, why does that raise eyebrows for women?

Amitabh Bachhan, who essays the role of the lawyer, is exceptional as the aging, gritty legal eagle who mockingly lays bare the hypocrisies of Indian society. The girls, played by Tapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari and Andrea Tariang, starkly portray the helplessness and vulnerability of being under constant assault. The direction is taut, though it could have been tighter, with the dramatic scenes in court holding the viewer's attention throughout.

However, considering the subject of the film and the rather disturbing visuals and conversations, it would have been wiser to make this an adult film.

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