A Future With No Feminists, ‘Coz We’ll All Be Equal: Actor Lakshmi

Actor Lakshmi Priyaa laughs at all the misogynistic things people say about women in India.

Actor Lakshmi laughs at misogyny and stereotypes set by society.

(Photo Courtesy: Smitha TK/ The Quint)

Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli.

A theatre and film actor in the South Indian film industry for over 4 years now, Lakshmi became a common name in every office canteen discussion and gossip circle after her 18-minute short film Lakshmi.

Directed by Sarjun KM, the film is about a woman, Lakshmi, who has an extramarital affair. She is in an abusive marriage where her husband only treats her as a cook and caretaker. Even in the bedroom, he always thinks of his own pleasure and rolls off as soon as he is done. He seems to have another woman in his life as well.

Circumstances and fleeting moments in the train everyday brings Lakshmi close to a stranger whom she ends up going home with, for a night.

Lakshmi was an attempt to show a woman's desire to break the rules set by society for a day’s happiness.

But the film received a lot of criticism on social media.

The actor Lakshmi became the star of memes with hate comments pouring in asking how an Indian woman could behave against the traditions and shackles set by Indian culture and needs to always ‘put up’ with the husband, no matter what.

But when it came to the man, it was alright to break the rules.

I feel it is not fair to say that it is okay if men do certain things but SO not okay if women do the same. There were full length feature films where men played the role I portrayed... and that were completely accepted by society. But when it was a female playing that role everyone had an issue. Ab Laugh Naari!

Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli, Actor

Undeterred by hateful comments, Lakshmi continues to work on feature films and plays that look at a woman as an individual rather than a glamour quotient.

Let us move towards a world where there won’t be any feminists because there we won’t need them, for we would’ve attained gender equality and all will be well again!

Lakshmi Priyaa Chandramouli, Actor

(Hey there, lady! What makes you laugh? Do you laugh at sexism, patriarchy, and misogyny? Do 'sanskaari' stereotypes crack you up? This Women's Day, join The Quint's Ab Laugh Naari campaign. Pick up that beer, say cheers, and send us photographs or videos of you laughing out loud at [e-mail].)