Frontline Conversations

On September 2, the West Bengal government passed the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024, apparently in response to the gruesome rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata's R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. Since then, the Bill has been universally panned as regressive, unconstitutional, and anti-feminist, with activists calling it nothing more than a desperate attempt by the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government to quell the rising public anger against it. It has also attracted criticism for several aspects such as mandatory death sentence, reducing the time frame for investigation and trial, and enhanced punishments under several sections of the existing laws such as the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita; the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita; and the POCSO Act.

In an exclusive interview with Frontline, retired Supreme Court Justice and eminent jurist Asok Kumar Ganguly pointed out that “mandatory death sentence” had already been outlawed via a 1983 Supreme Court judgment and when the entire world is moving towards abolition of the death penalty, making it mandatory marks the Bill as regressive. He also spoke about how harsher laws do not impact the rate of crime, the societal changes needed to prevent rape, and more.

The prolific author Sudeep Chakravarti’s 10th book, Fallen City, is about Delhi, where two children, Geeta and Sanjay, were brutally murdered in 1978. He places the crime in a socio-political context. Chakravarti’s own life is as interesting as his work and he has just emerged after three years in Dhaka, where he set up a South Asia study department at a university.

In an interview with Frontline, he speaks about his latest book, Bangladesh’s transformation over the years, the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, the recent spate of violence against the nation’s Hindus, the protests in Kolkata, and more.

In this insightful edition of Frontline Conversations, veteran journalist Saba Naqvi engages in a candid discussion with political scientist Ashish Ranjan about the recent electoral developments in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. The conversation delves into the intricacies of caste dynamics, social engineering, and the changing political landscape in these regions.

Key topics covered include:

Ranjan, drawing from his extensive experience with institutions like CSDS, Ashoka University's Trivedi Centre, and the Centre for Policy Research, offers data-driven insights into voting patterns, caste equations, and the evolving strategies of major political parties. The conversation provides a comprehensive analysis of the current political scenario and its potential impact on future electoral battles in the country.

The Justice Hema Committee report released in August shed light on the widespread and persistent nature of sexual harassment in the Malayalam film industry. The report’s revelations have sparked a host of reactions, dividing both the industry and the society at large. The Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a group of women from the industry initially formed in response to a female actor being abducted and sexually assaulted in February 2017, has been at the forefront of advocating the release of the report and its findings.

Bina Paul, multiple National Award and Kerala State Film Award-winning film editor, is one of the WCC’s prominent faces. In an interview with Frontline, she says that the collective’s biggest achievement was putting gender issues on the agenda and hopes that the industry can come together to bring about systemic change.

In a scathing indictment of the Indian film industry, Bengali actor Sreelekha Mitra has once again thrust into the spotlight the pervasive issues of misogyny, exploitation, and abuse of power that have long plagued Bollywood and regional cinema alike. Speaking exclusively to Frontline, Mitra, known for her roles in hits like Hothat Brishti and Aschorjo Pradip, pulls no punches as she recounts her own experiences of inappropriate behaviour from powerful industry figures and the subsequent backlash for daring to speak out.

From allegations against popular Malayalam director Ranjith to calling out big names in the Bengali film industry, Mitra's testimony paints a disturbing picture of an industry where silence is rewarded and truth-tellers are ostracised. As the #MeToo movement continues to shake up Indian cinema, especially in the context of the release of the Hema Committee Report in Kerala, Mitra's revelations offer a rare, insider's glimpse into the "dark corners" of a world where power dynamics and entrenched patriarchal attitudes continue to haunt women both on and off screen.

From Maratha reservations to Mumbai's development and from farmer welfare to alliance dynamics, Sunil Tatkare, prominent NCP leader and Lok Sabha MP from Raigad, decodes Maharashtra's shifting political landscape in a candid conversation with Frontline's Amey Tirodkar.

In this revealing interview, Sunil Tatkare offers unprecedented insights into the State's political transformation since the parliamentary election earlier this year. After Mahayuti's underwhelming performance in the Lok Sabha election (17 seats vs MVA's 31), the alliance faces multiple challenges: Maratha reservation demands, industrial policy criticism, and alliance coordination issues. Tatkare, representing the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP, offers new perspectives on these challenges.

HIGHLIGHTS:

Direct. Unfiltered. Controversial. Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar breaks his silence on the Dharavi redevelopment deal, answers tough questions about Adani, and reveals the BJP-led Mahayuti's game plan for Mumbai's 36 seats. In this hard-hitting Frontline interview, Shelar tackles everything from vote banks to Metro lines, from Uddhav Thackeray to urban renewal.

Shelar speaks on the burning issues shaping Maharashtra politics, from "vote jihad" to Vision 2024, from Marathi Manoos to Metro Lines. He also offers hot takes on the following matters:

In this exclusive interview with Frontline's Amey Tirodkar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray shares his candid views on Maharashtra's political landscape ahead of the crucial Assembly elections. The first from the Thackeray family to contest elections, he discusses his party's agenda, the MVA alliance, and his vision for Maharashtra's development.

Aaditya Thackeray addresses crucial topics including Maharashtra's industrial development, the Dharavi redevelopment controversy, and the MVA's vision for the state's future. He speaks frankly about his party's stance on various issues, from the Maratha reservation protests to allegations of "vote jehad".

This interview explores several critical aspects of Maharashtra's current political scenario:

Thackeray's insights are particularly valuable given his unique position both as a former Minister and a key opposition figure. The conversation takes place against the backdrop of several significant developments:

In the context of the Hema Committee report that rocked Malayalam cinema and beyond, actor and director Revathi talks about the changing film industry in this interview with Frontline. She discusses the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC), a group she helped start in 2017 after a serious incident in the Malayalam film industry. The WCC aims to fix long-standing problems in the industry. Revathi has worked in movies for several decades, and now she uses her experience to push for better treatment of women in the film world.

In this conversation, she explains how the WCC grew from a small group chat into an organisation that fights for change. She also talks about the Hema Committee report, a government study about women's working conditions in Malayalam films. Revathi shares what she thinks about its findings and why it took so long to come out. Her insights show how hard it can be to change an industry with old habits. Revathi points out problems like sexual harassment, unequal pay, and poor working conditions on film sets. She explains how new actors often have less power and face more risks. Some people support the WCC's work, while others oppose it, and Revathi talks about dealing with both reactions. She suggests ways to make things better, including new laws and changes in how the industry works. She shares how speaking up has affected her own career and why she thinks it's important to keep fighting for change, even when the fight becomes difficult.

As Jammu and Kashmir prepares for its first Assembly elections in a decade, CPI(M) leader and People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) spokesperson Mohammed Yousuf Tarigami discusses the political landscape following the abrogation of Article 370. In an exclusive interview with Frontline, Tarigami addresses the challenges facing the region, including the downgrading of statehood, concerns over land and job protections, and the need for unity among secular parties to counter the BJP's influence. He stresses the broader implications of Article 370's removal, calling it an "assault on the bond of relationship" between J&K and India, while expressing cautious optimism about the restoration of statehood and the democratic process.