Women tend to feel guilty when they try to achieve their dreams, says Ashwiny

Filmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari has a problem with the oft quoted saying "Behind every successful man, there is a woman" as she believes that in a largely patriarchal society, the line only reinforces the notion that a woman is supposed to give priority to her household.

The filmmaker, who is the force behind critically-acclaimed movies such as "Nil Battey Sannata" and "Bareilly Ki Barfi", says patriarchy is so deep-rooted in the society that a woman has constant guilt trips the moment she steps out to achieve her dreams.

"There are so many stories. Some women have house help or in-laws or parents or a supportive husband but most of them do not have any kind of help. It is a guilt that comes in place, you always feel you need to be there for your family.

"It is very patriarchal and societal when it is said that 'behind every man, there is a woman' as she takes care of the house and does everything else, whereas a man can go out and work," Ashwiny told PTI in an interview.

The filmmaker has tried to present one such story through her next "Panga", which features Kangana Ranaut as Jaya Nigam, a national-level Kabaddi champion who aims to make a comeback to the sport.

Ashwiny says there is a hidden dream in every woman to achieve something but the guilt gets in the way.

"It is a guilt thing. If they want, they could follow their dreams. I have been rotating since last few days as I am busy with my film but I am feeling guilty (of not being there for my kids). It is inherent, it is so ingrained in our system that it seems you are doing something wrong."
"Maybe after 'Panga', I hope the new thing can be, 'Behind every woman, there is a man'. The perception, the notion should change. We are not superwoman, they look good in movies. We need to have the whole idea of co-existence and co-parenting."
"I had to maintain a great balance between slice-of-life portion and sports. Every sports film has lots of grittiness and aggression, I couldn't show two films in one. With sports film, it is like you need good camera work but I had to bridge the gap between slice-of-life and Kabaddi."
"I was tired of watching sports films which are done only in a certain way, where it is about aggression, grittiness, dark shots, sweat and there is nothing wrong in it. Everyone has their own way of making a film. But in 'Panga' I felt to do it this way."