Showing posts with label The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. Show all posts
We tend to laugh more easily at men's jokes than women's-Swara Bhasker
8:10 AM
Dismissing comparisons between Bhaag Beanie Bhaag and Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Swara Bhasker says society is prejudiced against female comics
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 3, 2020)
Juggling home renovation with Bhaag Beanie Bhaag promotions, Swara Bhasker jokes that her life currently is a lot like the series' working title, Messy. Admittedly "always in a mess", she could easily relate to the protagonist of the Netflix series. "Also, I have become synonymous with issue-based stories. So, this is my effort to avoid getting boxed," begins the actor, who plays Beanie, a young woman who calls off her engagement to pursue a career in stand-up comedy.
After the show's trailer dropped online, many felt it bore a striking resemblance to The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. Bhasker, who has yet to watch the Rachel Brosnahan-led comedy, dismisses the comparisons. "When we watch an actioner with a hero playing a cop, we don't say it's like every other cop flick. We don't compare Dil Chahta Hai [2001] to Sholay [1975] [because of their theme of friendship]. We are used to seeing similar male-fronted stories; female-fronted shows aren't the norm. So when we see a series about a female comic struggling on stage, it becomes [akin to] The Marvelous Mrs Maisel. Every show can't be assessed on a one-line [concept]. Bhaag Beanie is about a woman who is learning to say no to society's expectations."
To perfect her act, she was guided by comics Sumukhi Suresh, Sumaira Shaikh and Anubhav Bassi. She is quick to add that Beanie's jokes on screen don't mirror her causes. "I don't want my work to push my own agendas. At work, I am an actor who is servicing the vision of a director. On Twitter, I am an actor with a voice that reaches millions. I am a loudspeaker to put forth voices that are lost in the fringes. I wish we weren't in a world where it is unusual for actors to speak up."
In July, comedian Agrima Joshua was subjected to rape threats after she joked about Maharashtra government's project of building Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's statue in the Arabian sea. The incident highlighted the prejudices against female comics in India. "Female comics don't need an artiste to speak up for them; they can do it on their own. But, as a society, we laugh more easily at men's jokes than that of women. That said, with more women comics out there, we are headed towards better times."
Still from The Marvelous Mrs Maisel
Amazon's American suit warn Indian team, after they self-censor The Marvelous Mrs Maisel?
9:52 AM
Displeased with Amazon India's self-censorship of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, US heads bar tampering of international content; policing to be limited to local shows
Mohar Basu (MID-DAY; December 22, 2018)
Indian fans of The Marvelous Mrs Maisel were in for a rude shock when the second season aired on Amazon Prime earlier this month. In an act of self-censorship, the OTT platform had blurred several scenes that featured cigarettes and cigarette packs. It has now been learnt that the suits at the American headquarters were not too pleased with the development and picked up a discussion with the content team of Amazon India earlier this week.
Following a lengthy dialogue between the two teams, it has apparently been decided that censorship and disclaimers will be limited to their Indian shows. We hear the Indian arm has been categorically told to not edit content sourced from their American counterpart.
A source from the OTT channel told mid-day, "Our internal policy has been decided as per the guidelines of the government of India on what can and cannot be screened for an Indian audience. One may argue that the guidelines in India are restricted to what can be screened at public theatres, but Amazon India exercises its own discretion on what is suitable to be aired. Since the company has interests in the country that extend beyond OTT, it wants to play by the rules and not flout guidelines, since it might lead to hurting sentiments of people."
With the latest diktat coming into effect, the team will have a free hand on homegrown content such as the upcoming seasons of Inside Edge, Breathe and Mirzapur. "But the series that are handed from the US and other countries will have to be aired as they are," added the source.
The Indian division's practice of self-censorship came to the fore in 2016 when an episode of The Grand Tour was cut down by almost 30 minutes. The segment in question featured cow's organs being placed in a car. The platform had reportedly stated that it was done keeping Indian cultural sensitivities in mind.
Amazon Prime did not deny the report, while declining to comment at the time of going to press.
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