Situation of women in our society is very complex: Prasoon Joshi

Prasoon Joshi

Bollywood writer Prasoon Joshi visited the Women Power Line office in Lucknow on Sunday

National Award winning lyricist and Bollywood writer, Prasoon Joshi was in Lucknow on Sunday, and no, it wasn't for anything filmi. The ad man-turned-writer was in town to see the functioning of the Women Power Line 1090.

"It was Aamir Khan who first told me about the Power Line," says Joshi, when asked how he learnt about the helpline. "There are still many people who are unaware that such a system has been put in place in UP," he adds.

Apparently, the lyricist was rather impressed with what he saw at the 1090 call centre. "I am more impressed by the psychological advantage such a helpline gives to women. How many culprits are convicted is a different matter, but it creates an atmosphere where a man does not feel he can get away so easily after committing an offence against a woman. He should feel his life can be ruined for indulging in any act of harassment against a woman. Similarly, a girl feels secured ki apart from her family, there is someone else to take care of her. And being able to create such an atmosphere will be the success of the women helpline," says Prasoon, adding, "The situation of women in our society is very complex; it is not just about law and order, hamare desh mein har cheez sanaskaron mein ghul-mil gayi hai. And we need a change of mindset there. Women themselves need to stand up for each other. As a writer, I try to do foster respect for women in our society."

And while talking about his work, Prasoon, who has written the script, dialogues and screenplay for Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, says, "Main toh ek durghatana hoon, I accidentally got into this field." 
But the creative fields like writing are still not a favoured choice of profession for a lot of parents, who discourage their children from taking up such a career. "What I did first was that I completed my education and I made sure if I have to write for films, that my parents should not pay for it. There are many people who come to Mumbai and struggle and not all succeed. So if parents ask kids to study first, then there is nothing wrong in it. Children should not burden on their parents to build their dreams, ki falan cheez karni hai toh baap ka Provident Fund hai," avers Prasoon.