This ‘Film Industry Panel’ Met PM Modi. Can You Spot The Problem?

The panel which was supposed to discuss the role of Indian cinema in nation building did not have a single women representative

By: Rakesh Jha |
October 27, 2018 5:55 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met a delegation of filmmakers and producers from Hindi film industry including actor Aamir Khan, Rajkumar Hirani, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Aanand L Rai, Ritesh Sidhwani, Maulik Bhagat and Mahaveer Jain to discuss how the entertainment industry could contribute more towards nation building.

The panel, according to a report in Mumbai Mirror, urged the prime minister to give ‘industry’ status to the Indian film fraternity, it also discussed the day-to-day issues faced by those on the field. Film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh shared the picture of the panel which met the Indian prime minister.

Hon Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi meets film industry delegation: Aamir Khan, Rajkumar Hirani, Aanand L Rai, Ritesh Sidhwani, Siddharth Roy Kapur, Maulik Bhagat and Mahaveer Jain… How entertainment industry can contribute more in nation building was discussed. pic.twitter.com/VKbWvhqnso

— taran adarsh (@taran_adarsh) October 25, 2018

Surprisingly, the panel which was supposed to discuss the role of Indian cinema in nation building did not have a single women representative. This came at a time when #MeToo movement is sweeping Bollywood, and many women are calling out their male harassers. Twitter spotted the issue with this ‘manel’ and questioned whether women are not needed for nation building.

What?! No women in this gathering? Entertainment industry has women as an intrinsic part of it. How do they dream of nation building without involving women in the process? Disappointing. https://t.co/bXRQjNm9ET

— N (@_morphiine_) October 26, 2018

and not one woman in sight! #lol #Patriarchy #stronghold https://t.co/iuGY1EpDBC

— Sapna Moti Bhavnani (@sapnabhavnani) October 26, 2018

Did all the women have insightful and nuanced takes that could better contribute to the conversation, and eventually, reformation? https://t.co/KH4Jlugevw

— Mahima Kukreja (@AGirlOfHerWords) October 26, 2018

The Indian entertainment industry has only men. Impressive. https://t.co/bXnQ4jo8jg

— kamalika ghosh (@GhoshKamalika) October 26, 2018

Koi inhe inclusivity ka memo bhej do please https://t.co/2XVGkoHcUz

— Aakriti Mehrotra (@Aakriti1) October 26, 2018