When art speaks volumes

Joy Sengupta

While women do not need men to speak for them, it is a step in the right direction, when a man understands gender parity and vocalises it with his work. When Lillete Dubey approached actor Joy Sengupta to act in her teleplay Womanly Voices, he instantly accepted the opportunity. "The [three-part] anthology represents women's voices in Indian literature and presents diverse milieus. The stories mirrors life in all its richness and complexity," says Sengupta, who is featuring in The Teacher's Story.

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The short is a stark reminder of deep-seated hate and prejudices against unconventional relationships. "Art must be a reflection of what's happening around us. At times, it can even become an intervention of ideas that offer solutions," hopes the actor, who ensures that his artistic choices reflect his personal convictions and beliefs. When asked why he has always chosen to vociferously speak up for gender issues, Joy responds, "Theatre remains one creative medium that has embraced gender equity in a big way. I follow a simple Gandhian philosophy in my life - truth is truth, even if you are a minority of one. So, if you are not scared of the truth, you shouldn't be scared of speaking it."

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