Trisha Das, a National Award-winning documentary filmmaker and novelist, stated that she, too, has been sexually harassed at work in the past, but that #MeToo has ushered in a positive change in the previous five years.
She also discusses her desire to have her current book, ‘Misters Kuru: A Return to Mahabharata,’ adapted for the big screen.
“Being a feminist, from the time I wrote my first book, ‘Ms. Draupadi Kuru: After the Pandavas,’ (in 2016) to the present time, one of the biggest changes that have happened and that has shifted the conversation on gender equality, injustice in society, and workplace based on gender politics is the #MeToo movement,” Trisha Das told a media source.
“When I was working as a documentary filmmaker, I was sexually harassed on several occasions. However, it was a pretty typical practice in the workplace, with women looking out for other women to soothe and protect.
“Because there was no social media for people to tell their stories, there was also no accountability.” Men have little fear of repercussions if they remained silent after being subjected to such abuse. The #MeToo movement, as well as social media and frequent discourse about sexual harassment in the workplace, have created the impetus.”
“While this movement is liberating for women, I hope it does not become politicized,” she says.
“Those men were not renowned,” Trisha said when asked why she didn’t openly disclose her #MeToo experience. “I am not in touch with any of them, I don’t even know where they are now!” We weren’t on social media or WhatsApp at the time, so I couldn’t find them.
“Having said that, I am pleased with the current state of affairs. It is excellent if males modified their behavior knowing that there may be consequences, even if it is only a shift in thinking as a result of that fear; it decreases the amount of sexual harassment in the first place. That’s also excellent!”
‘Ms. Draupadi Kuru: After the Pandavas,’ ‘Kama’s Last Sutra,’ and ‘Misters Kuru: A Return to Mahabharata,’ are reinvented, fictitious works based on our mythology. Given that all of these stories have the potential for film adaptation, it appears that Trisha is considering it as well.
“To be honest, I’m also talking to several film and television producers about a screen adaptation of my novel, whether it’s a series or a web film.” But it’s at such an early stage that I can’t really comment on it in depth. Although I will not direct the film or show, I will write the script. I feel that ‘Misters Kuru: A Return to Mahabharata,’ in particular, contains engaging and humorous characters that might make it a good film.
