It was in the All India Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act (SITA) of 1956 that does not prohibit prostitutes to commence their trade in private but they cannot carry their business in public. The landmark judgement of the Supreme Court in May 2022 acknowledged sex work as a profession in India. This decision could surely help one challenge the institutional barriers that prevent sex workers from accessing basic rights and equality. Interestingly, prostitution is not illegal in India, per se. According to the Indian Penal Code (IPC), however, several activities under prostitution are punishable by law — pimping, renting out property for running brothels, etc.
There is annual observance of International Sex Workers Day on June 2 to increase understanding of their rights, struggles, and accomplishments globally. On this day, sex workers are honoured and recognised for their contributions, as well as their continued hardships. One place where the myths of prostitution are busted is cinema. Filmmakers have investigated the life of sex workers over the years to understand the stigma surrounding them. The common perception of prostitution and sex work in India has been heavily influenced by Hindi films. How accurate is this representation, though, is a valid concern. Let’s list down the plots of movies which explored the closed door industry.
- Chetna (1970):
Anil Dhawan, a quiet and reclusive young guy, meets Seema, a prostitute, through one of his acquaintances, Ramesh. Anil is extremely reserved when they first meet Seema, but they soon develop a friendship. She replies as well, and the two start dating. When Anil makes a marriage proposal, Seema happily accepts. Anil needs to travel for four or five days. When he gets back, he discovers Seema has significantly increased her alcohol and smoking use, and she also seems depressed and carefree. He is left wondering what happened while he was gone to cause Seema to regress in such a way.
- Pakeezah (1972):
The narrative centres on Sahibjaan, who was raised by brothel owner Madame Nawabjaan. She grows up and becomes a well-known dancer and singer. She agrees to elope with a forest ranger Salim after being enchanted by her beauty and innocence, but she faces difficulties because Salim is often recognised by men wherever they go. She refuses to be legally married when he renames her Pakeezah (Pure) and takes her to a priest, so she goes back to the brothel. - Mausam (1975):
While studying for his exams, Amarnath Gill has an injury and seeks treatment from a local doctor. Amarnath is attracted to his daughter Chanda, and she returns his feelings. After getting intimate with Chanda, Amarnath leaves for Kolkata with the promise of marriage. He promises to come back to her, but never does. Years later, he discovers her daughter, who has landed in a brothel and tries to give her a better life. - Mandi (1983):
The classic Urdu short story “Aanandi” by Pakistani author Ghulam Abbas served as the inspiration for this movie. It involves a brothel in the centre of a city, in a location that some politicians consider to be prime real estate. In the name of morality, they organise a protest against the brothel and its occupants, and soon everyone in the neighbourhood joins them. The politicians promise to build a different location for the prostitutes to live, but it is miles distant and remote from the city. The madam of the house is forced to agree, but by the end of the story, things start to make more sense. - Aastha (1997):
Mansi and Amar have been together for a number of years and have one kid together. Mansi manages the household duties and their daughter while Amar works full-time. The family can live comfortably because to Amar’s reliable salary, but they are unable to indulge in any costly activities. Mansi discovers one day that shoes are incredibly pricey while purchasing shoes for her daughter and she decides she wants to leave the store without buying any. Reena, another female customer, offers to buy the shoes since she feels bad for Mansi. Mansi grudgingly agrees to Reena’s offer to pay for the shoes, unaware that Reena has a hidden purpose for doing so which will introduce her to the world of prostitution. - Chandni Bar (2001):
After her family is killed in communal violence, Mumtaz moves to Mumbai to live with her cruel, impoverished uncle. He forces her to get a job at a bar, where she must dance for disreputable men. Tragedy strikes when her uncle rapes her, after which Mumtaz finds comfort in the arms of Potiya, a gangster smitten with her. They get married and have children. Potiya shows his true colors by abandoning his family, leaving them to fend for themselves. Mumtaz’s world begins to fall apart. For her children, she goes back to the bar. She ultimately is powerless to shield children from their awful surroundings. Mumtaz takes to prostitution in a sad attempt to save her son, and in turn, her daughter transforms into a pub dancer. Mumtaz’s son turns out to be a murderer. - Kali Salwar (2002):
It is based on the writing of Saadat Hasan Manto. Sultana, a prostitute from a small town, and her pimp Khudabaksh move to the city, taking their hopes and scant possessions with them. Sultana conducts her clever and artistic seductions, but she consistently fails to hit her mark. Her company goes under. Khudabaksh desperately tries his hand at numerous jobs, but he is unsuccessful. Sultana’s need for the “salwaar” she needs to finish her all-black outfit for the Moharram mourning ceremony serves as an objectification of her loneliness and desperation. - Market (2003):
Muskaan Bano, a courtesan for many years, was aware of the sad events surrounding the newlywed wife Neelu when her husband, Appa Rao, lured her into the brothel under false pretences. When the authorities raid the brothel and detain the customers and the courtesans, everything changes. Muskaan accepts to Inspector Sawant’s promotion of her to a different, albeit more sophisticated “market” after he grows fond of her. After that, Muskaan, now known as Malika, has no choice but to pursue her goals to the death, including exacting revenge on her Arab husband for having sold her at the flesh market.
- Chameli (2004):
The closest train station to Kamathipura, a neighbourhood infamous for its red-light district in particular and for being a crime-prone neighbourhood in general, is Lamington Road on Bombay’s Western Railway. Rich Aman Kapoor’s automobile breaks down in this location on a stormy, wet day. He tries unsuccessfully to call for assistance on his cell phone, so he seeks refuge in a nearby structure. He meets a prostitute named Chameli at this point, and that is when his nightmare with pimps, eunuchs, prostitutes, and dishonest police officers starts and seems to have no end. - Julie (2004):
Mihir, a powerful businessman, develops feelings for Julie, a prostitute. She is hesitant to accept his marriage proposal because of her work and her past. She is also sceptical of Mihir’s family’s acceptance.
- Laga Chunari Mein Daag (2007):
Badki, a young girl from Banaras, moves to Mumbai in order to support her family by working honestly. Things at home don’t turn out the way she had intended, so she turned to prostitution for immediate financial support. When her younger sister Chutki confronts her and learns about her secret existence. No one anticipated or would have imagined in their wildest thoughts the fight that is taking place between the two sisters. The entire family gets dragged into a violent storm. Everything leaves a path of devastation. - Dev D (2009):
Due to a misunderstanding, Dev rejected Paro’s love and turned to alcohol and drugs for comfort. Dev continues to regret as Paro moves on. He encounters Chanda, a prostitute who has her own issues. Dev likes Chanda, but their relationship won’t last because of his propensity for self-destruction. He also comes into contact with sleazy characters like Chunni, Chanda’s pimp, who leads Dev farther into self-destruction in order to serve his own interests. - Begum Jaan (2017):
Begum Jaan, the brothel madam, and her prostitutes refuse to leave after their house is partitioned along the Radcliffe Line during the Pakistan-India partition; the madam struggles to maintain her failing business amid the turbulent political climate.
- Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022):
Gangubai Kathiawadi aka Ganga who wanted to be an actress elopes to Bombay with her boyfriend Ramnik who sold her at brothel of Shelia Masi. Gangubai did not have option to return back and hence turned into a prostitute. She gained respect from fellow women as she would be their main support to go against Sheila Masi. In coming times Gangubai bonds with Don Rahim Lala and develops a brotherly relationship with him. Gangubai is soon known as the mafia queen and wants better lives for women of her community. She decides to enter politics but has a powerful contender Raziabai opposite her. Though she wins and gets to meet to the then Prime Minister to demand rights for her community.
