Sonia Faleiro
Thursday, September 29, 2005
I'm Too Sexy For My Words
"What does not talking sex say of freedom of speech?
Actress Khushboo didn’t think twice before telling a newsmagazine, “No educated man expects his wife to be a virgin.” As far as she was concerned, the truth can bear telling. What Khushboo couldn’t have expected was immediate condemnation in her home state of Tamil Nadu, by obscure political parties and a gaggle of self-righteous women, one of whom filed a defamation suit against her.
That the actress apologised within days is ironic, considering the article insists that women are “asserting their sexuality with growing confidence”. As the remonstrations drummed up publicity for some and became occasion for others to bring down the popular actress a peg, what’s alarming is the lack of support she received from the public, and public figures. Neither saw fit to assert her right to freedom of speech or point out the legitimacy of her remarks.
The subsequent humiliation not only warns other celebrities against discussing sex in the media, it serves as a gag order for an entire people. When some protesters pointed out that ‘Tamil culture’ is adversely impacted by such remarks, others should have responded that a society, which stifles speech, might not have much to offer in any case."
Tehelka, October 8, '05
All you need to know about the Khushboo fracas here.
Actress Khushboo didn’t think twice before telling a newsmagazine, “No educated man expects his wife to be a virgin.” As far as she was concerned, the truth can bear telling. What Khushboo couldn’t have expected was immediate condemnation in her home state of Tamil Nadu, by obscure political parties and a gaggle of self-righteous women, one of whom filed a defamation suit against her.
That the actress apologised within days is ironic, considering the article insists that women are “asserting their sexuality with growing confidence”. As the remonstrations drummed up publicity for some and became occasion for others to bring down the popular actress a peg, what’s alarming is the lack of support she received from the public, and public figures. Neither saw fit to assert her right to freedom of speech or point out the legitimacy of her remarks.
The subsequent humiliation not only warns other celebrities against discussing sex in the media, it serves as a gag order for an entire people. When some protesters pointed out that ‘Tamil culture’ is adversely impacted by such remarks, others should have responded that a society, which stifles speech, might not have much to offer in any case."
Tehelka, October 8, '05
All you need to know about the Khushboo fracas here.
:: posted by Sonia Faleiro, 1:00 PM
