Zarah_Bachchan Review of Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein

Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (2001)

What message does that send to young Indian men?

[1/10 · 9 November 2012]

I watched that movie with a lot of hope after seeing its mark. I have been hugely disappointed. India is a country where girls are subject to an increasing level of sexual harassment. It is also a country where their honour is highly valued, and where a bad marriage often means a life of misery. This film portrays Reena as a nice girl, but a girl whose choice is never taken into account. I thought that the film would end by her choosing neither after she says she doesn't want to decide her future by closing her eyes. It would have been an excellent, and genuinely original ending. Sadly, she goes with her harasser (which is what Madhav is). This basically say you can lie to a girl, and you'll get her. It doesn't matter what she thinks, she'll fall for you. As in ALL Bollywood movies, the first half hour is about the guy creepily staring at her all the time. It doesn't take into account the fact that, yes we do realise that as girls. And we don't like it. No wonder guys in India think it's OK to stare at a girl and harass her. It's because of films like that such behaviour is tolerated. Then what happens? Oh yes, Madhav pursue her, threatens her, threaten to hit her friends, beat up a few guys, and tell her that he could have raped her. She cries, but so what? It works. The film ends when Rajiv 'gives her' (she doesn't even come on her own) to Madhav. I know the story between the guys was in the background, but come on. What does that say, really? Such a film deserves only blame. It normalises attitudes which are deeply disturbing in Indian society. Get a grip, and produce films that have the balls to actually portray women other than passive victims, and men as weirdos who stare, harass, and get what they want.