Arjun Reddy

The Seduction of Arjun Reddy

Intrigued by the widely divergent responses to Arjun Reddy I finally went to watch Arjun Reddy yesterday. In the facebook debates that I read I was particularly struck by the enthusiastic support by young women who defended the film and the hero in the face of feminist critique. I wanted to understand what is it that they so liked. I must admit that I quite enjoyed the film despite some cringe worthy moments and its length. As the movie progressed I was completely seduced by the logic of the film and I thought that I should write a reflective note on why it could be so, for the young women, and of course the young men!

Arjun Reddy, the protagonist is a handsome, rich, meritorious, free spirited and modern man. He does not care for the usual niceties, whether of the family or of the society, beyond a point. He sees through the hypocrisy of these norms and rules and is not averse to using them to his advantage. His dedication to his profession is marked through the film despite his later descent into alcohol-drug addiction. He also does not stand objectification of women and believes that his fiance should be a serious professional. He also is against caste heirarchy. He proves his professional integrity by admitting to his addiction and loses his license.

After falling in love with a ordinary looking heroine he dotes on her; saves her from ragging and sexual harassment; takes care of her when she is sick and responds to her sexual initiative. He does’nt mind drying her undies. He is uninhibited in showing his affection for her irrespective of the location and declares that he will marry her come what may. He does not care to seek the approval of his parents though he agrees to meet her parents to comply with her wishes. Unable to forget her, he descends into alcohol addiction when she gets married to another person. He does not prevent his sadness, emotions and raw anger from coming out. And in the end is ready to take her along with a child which may not be his. He simply cannot live without her.

Yes, he has anger issues and does not back away from a fight, but that is a small flaw, because he is sincere and honest in his intentions, almost child-like in expressing what he wants and feels. He cries his heart out and cares two hoots about stuff like, men don’t cry. He is vulnerable, emotional and does not mind submitting himself to the anger and emotional outburst of the woman in his life.

Now, the charms of this model hero for the young men of today are obvious. Impatient with with age old feudal norms of the family and the caste system but forced to compromise and adjust with the norms, especially in relation to love and marriage, they would root for a hero who openly declares that he does not care for such outmoded norms. Whether it is sexual life or personal life, the film roots for individual freedom and choice. Nothing is taboo, including drugs, alcohol and carefree sex. Who wouldn’t want to live like that?

But more importantly, which young women would not want to have such a lover? A man who dotes on you, protects you and would be with you, come what may. He does not insult you or humiliate you. And does not want you to submit to his family’s wishes. He does not bother about your caste nor about your family status. A man who seeks emotional intimacy and melts like candy in your arms. What if he is a tad angry, you can control his anger. He gives that power to you. Which woman does does not want an ultimate masculine man who submits to your charms and gives that power to you? And on top of it wants you to be his entire world? This is what dreams are made of, right?

But what happens when the dream is shattered? Different effects for Arjun Reddy and the object of his affection. Arjun Reddy, despite his multiple addictions, is taken care of by his friends, gains respect in his profession and family still cares for him and does everything to protect him. His nightmare is of his own making. But Preeti’s nightmare is not. We don’t know what happens to her during the nine months that we don’t see her. We then learn in the last ten minutes that she has been abandoned by her family, lives alone while pregnant, till he comes back to reclaim her.

What would happen if he didn’t come back to claim her? The nine month period that the film does not show is what started haunting me, once I came out of the theatre. It is the difference between belonging to a man’s world and un-belonging. That easy slip from a sweet dream to the the nightmare is what unravelled the seductive logic of the film. Why was she so alone and friendless? Why did her professional education and her relationship did not give her enough courage to speak to her parents? Has her complete absorption in the the relationship prevented her from making friends? And did his machismo fool her into thinking that she does not need to do anything to make it work in the real world?

In fact, we don’t know anything about her. We don’t know what she likes, how she wants to live or what she wants to do. We only see her reflected in his eyes, an embodiment of his desire, his affection and his modernity. She is an empty person who does not have wishes or desires of her own. She of course stands her ground and quits her marriage, but we do not get to know her logic as a person or as an individual. She is a receptacle of his love and even her move to leave the marriage comes across as a sign of unrequited love.

I began to wonder, what if she did not want to get pregnant but wanted to pursue her MS? What if she wanted to go abroad or what if she wanted to take a break from her relationship? Would this logic of the film allow it? Perhaps not. The film is about him, Arjun Reddy, not as a character, as it is being discussed, but as a prototype and as a symbol. I tried to imagine his friends in his role, but they didn’t fit. They don’t have the money, looks, caste or status. What is he a symbol of? His character symbolises the desire of some upper middle class upper caste to break from the feudal patriarchal norms to become modern (Telugu?) ‘man’. It seems as if they have been waiting to break out or perhaps already broken out. And Telugu cinema has finally caught up with them.

Welcome to modern patriarchy! Here, women still caught up in old feudal patriarchal norms get into relationships with men who offer the dream of liberation. Such a dream where you don’t need to indulge in ugly fights for equality or rights or equal opportunities. They all come in a package, the modern man who has taken a liking to you. In fact, you don’t even need to consent. It is enough if you caught his attention. No dowry and no hassles of adjustment with in-laws. And you should assume your life is made. This individual of a man liberates you from the familial and social patriarchy to take you into his own, where you could be sweet prisoner in his arms! A little aggression makes it even sweeter. Afterall, shouldn’t men be a little real and aggressive?

I thought perhaps the appeal of the appeal of the film perhaps lay here. What they see around is smothering of freedom, severe constraints on mobility and life amidst promise of change, equality and freedom. They see mostly young men who cannot break out of old familial constraints, of caste, gender and class, but nevertheless wish for such men. A bit of stalking or disconnecting with female friends are trivial matters in this fantasy. Anyway, such things have become normalized in the course of transition from old to new society where one no longer needs to abide by the old rules. It is the dream which is important - that of a modern man who will liberate you!