Mahesh Bhatt is back with women again

By Bindu Jacob

His passion to bring to light the trauma of prostitutes and their children did not end with his much acclaimed film ``Sadak'', starring his daughter Pooja Bhatt.

This in fact was transformed into a burning desire to do something concrete for their upliftment and that is what he says has brought him to the two-day 8th National Festival of Women in Prostitution and their Children which began at the Sri Ram Centre in Mandi House today.

Director Mahesh Bhatt, dressed in a crisp white shirt, alongwith the `bubbly, power-packed' film-maker, Tanuja Chandra, together made out a strong case for sex workers and their children.

``Frankly, I see nothing wrong with prostitution. These women are doing their work much like me. In fact, we are in the same business,'' asserted Bhatt. ``These women, like me, are part of the pleasure business. And much as we may dislike it, the fact remains that in these dishonest times, prostitutes are the only people who deliver the goods they have taken money for.''

This statement set the pace for the next

half-an-hour of emphatic and emotional support for the women, by the Mahesh Bhatt-Tanuja Chandra duo.

``These women are a rare race in these dishonest times, who deliver,'' argued Bhatt. ``We have to educate and strengthen them, it is not a job it is our responsibility towards these women,'' claimed Bhatt.

Tanuja, the young and much acclaimed director who has experimented with bold subjects like rape and human-sacrifices, claimed that ``to be part of the world's oldest profession is not something that a needs to be ashamed of.

``As long as there is a demand for women, there will be supply. How can you one fine day just ask these women to pack up and shut down business, just because the moral index of the society rates prostitution at a very low level?'' argued.

Elaborating on their association with Guria, an association working with women in prostitution and their children in Uttar Pardesh -- and who are also the Madhya Pardesh and organisers of the festival -- the duo said, ``It is a cause that needs a platform, we are only the means for advocating the cause.''

The festival of dance and drama, featuring participants from Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pardesh, Uttar Pardesh and Maharastra, is aimed at providing an outlet to the talent and grievance of the prostitutes and their children.

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