Sexual harassment at workplace is a complex issue: Sudhir Mishra

Panaji: Speaking along the sidelines of Iffi on the rising number of sexual harassment cases, critically-acclaimed filmmaker Sudhir Mishra said that the issue is a matter of serious concern in society and there is a need for companies to protect its employees.
“Sexual harassment is a very serious problem which needs to be addressed. Offices have to understand this and put in place a protective mechanism for its employees.Women usually have a terrible time at work, particularly with their bosses. But, sometimes innocent male employees are subject to false allegations. It’s a complex issue, but mostly women are the victims,” he said.
Mishra’s 2013 film ‘Inkaar’, starring Arjun Rampal and Chitrangada Singh, deals with sexual harassment in a corporate setup which follows the story of a CEO of an ad-agency who faces a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by his protégé.
“When women cross traditional spaces and enter a territory controlled by men, then the interaction creates certain problems. Men have to understand that women are their equals. They have the same right to be as ambitious as them,” he added.
Mishra’s films ‘Iss Raat Ki Subah Nahi’ and ‘Chameli’ told the story of events that unfold in a single night, a formula that worked brilliantly. Speaking about night being a compelling setting, he said, “In the darkness things come out of the woodwork and people expose themselves, truly. It's a vulnerable time yet visually beautiful. Characters in these two films are much like the people I’ve met while wandering about at night in the streets of Mumbai.”
Known for making films with strong female protagonists, Mishra had to face a lot of hostility from his peers in the initial stages of his film career for going ‘against the tide’. “I had to fight many battles and this is one of them. The patriarchal view of film distribution has withheld female-centric films in India. Women entrepreneurs with financial clout should fund such films to promote and celebrate other women.”