United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director UN Women Lakshmi Puri announced the appointment of film director, classical dancer and writer, Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth Dhanush, as UN Women’s Advocate for Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in India. Aishwaryaa will help raise awareness of UN Women’s core messages of gender equality and women’s empowerment across India, boosting the organisation’s efforts to close the gender gap and achieve a more equal world – a Planet 50-50 – by the year 2030. Aishwaryaa joins other high profile figures such as actor-filmmaker-singer Farhan Akhtar, tennis star Sania Mirza, British actor Emma Watson, Academy Award winners Nicole Kidman and Anne Hathaway, and HRH Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol of Thailand, who have joined hands with UN Women to work for gender equality and the empowerment of women.
Aishwaryaa is a leading film director and a startup entrepreneur. In 2015, she launched Ten Entertainment, a digital medium to promote short film content and new digital ventures. She oversees the production activities of Wunderbar Films, a company launched by her husband and renowned film actor Dhanush. She is currently working on a book, Standing On An Apple Box, which describes her life as a celebrity daughter, mother and wife. She is also scripting for her next feature film. During the event the director took the time out for a quick chat with us. The transliteration of the video interview is right below:
1) How does it feel to get a prestigious post in the UN?
Coming from the media Industry, I feel very proud to promote awareness about gender equality. It feels very nice that we can use this medium to spread awareness and I have the confidence that we can reach out to everyone. We are going to make a lot of documentaries and movies targeting the South of India. The fact that I am standing Independent off my surname is an example of how supportive my family has been. Dhanush was here supporting me, which is a live example. I am sure my dad is extremely proud of me as I am going to be working for such a good cause. If where I stand can be used to spread awareness, why not? Through my position I hope to draw attention to some of these challenges and also highlight solutions.
2)How do you personally ensure that the kids are raised with an awareness about gender equality?
I don’t think you can lecture them about it. It’s all about the way you bring them up. Parenting is an equal job.
3)What kind of campaigns you will be doing to bring about an awareness about gender equality?
The United Nations team has chalked up a plan for the year. There will be a lot of documentaries from the south that will be sent to the UN. I think it will be more challenging to reach out to the rural community. There are a lot of women who are a victim of Verbal abuse, maybe an awareness around that should be raised.
4)Objectification of Women in movies:
Unlike before, Film-makers are more cautious about the portrayal and they know that women are not going to keep quiet anymore. What strikes me might not strike you at all, which is the beauty of cinema. Each one can interpret it the way they want to. There has to be an undercurrent of gender equality in films, and that will definitely bring about a change in the mindset of people.
5)Tell us about the book “Standing On An Apple Box” that you are working on. How challenging is it to write a memoir ?
There are lot of myths and notions when it comes to celebrity children and how they live their lives. It is more about breaking those myths and explaining the wrong notions that people have about Celebrity kids. When it comes to screen play, you can make up a lot of stuff, but when it comes to memoir writing, you can’t. The challenge is you have to make people relate to what I am feeling. Not a lot of people can relate to what I am saying. So, that is where the challenge lies.
6)If you were to break a stereotype, what would that be about?
I am breaking it myself by being a female director in a male-dominated industry. Even coming from a background like this, I find it very challenging. People think it is easy, but it is not.
7)Will your approach in film-making change because of this responsibility?
I don’t think it is going to change in a big away just because of the responsibility. I have always been conscious that I don’t make women –centric movies as there is a perception that female directors will make movies about women suffering and revolting. I am conscious about the fact that people should not watch it thinking that it is a movie made by a female director. We will be making movies to spread awareness about gender equality. I have no point to prove and I make movies I want to make.
8)Upcoming projects:
There are two scripts that I am currently working on and it will be done by December.
The post Aishwaryaa Rajinikanth Dhanush as UN Women’s Advocate for Gender Equality : Exclusive Interview appeared first on LifeandTrendz.