(Spoilers Ahead) Shahid Kapoor’s latest release Kabir Singh portrays him as an obsessed lover who turns to drugs and alcohol after his girlfriend marries someone else. While Kabir is the protagonist in the film, his belligerence seems to be the antagonist for some viewers! Twitter is abuzz as people are calling the film out for several reasons. Take a look at the scenes that offer you insight into what all the hoopla is about.
1. The leading lady, Kiara Advani’s portrayal as a prop who never takes a stand for herself!
2. The scene where Kabir points a knife at a girl and threatens her to have sex.
3. Kabir’s slap to Preeti (Kiara Advani)
4. The scene where he runs behind his maid to beat her up for breaking his whiskey glass.
5. Kabir’s dialogue where he says, “Chubby chicks are loyal” and “Preeti Chunni thik karo”.
6. Stalking, hooliganism, male ego, alcoholism, and drug abuse, etc.
Here’s what people who feel the film is full of toxic masculinity and misogyny have to say about it:
I refuse to watch 'Kabir Singh', much as I admire Shahid Kapoor. Stalking is stalking. No justification. Zero tolerance recommended.
— Shobhaa De (@DeShobhaa) June 24, 2019
#KabirSingh glorifies & normalises stalking abusive relationships , rape & violence.
Violence isn't love. Toxic domination is not cool.#KabirSinghReview— subhoshree (@ravishingtwikle) June 21, 2019
Man! It's 2019 girls are no more as dumb as #KabirSingh wants to portray.. I mean seriously Preeti Chunni theek kro.. and Preeti goes with a sorry look.. and you are talking about two Medical students. #KabirSinghReview
— Daman Sachdeva (@damansachdeva01) June 21, 2019
Kabir Singh is the most toxic shit I’ve watched. How are all the people in this movie theatre laughing at these toxic af jokes aaaghhh
— Ruchi🍕 (@ruchiiiii___) June 22, 2019
Watched Kabir Singh…. I’m speechless at how Bollywood romanticized such an abusive toxic relationship in 2019 WOWOW
— Rue (@RueRants) June 23, 2019
Indeed. I am professor with a University in Gujarat and I can see what impact it brings to teenager's brains. Not saying they are stupid to follow it, but influence is influence. I agree to #ZeroTolerance and refuse to watch 'Kabir Singh'
— Mansi Kakkad (@idealistmrchant) June 25, 2019
The film has divided social media into parts! Kabir Singh is a tale of ‘toxic masculinity’ loaded with misogynist comments and gestures for some. For a few others, it’s just another fictional story that is not to be taken so seriously that it results into a national outrage. For others, it’s an epic romantic drama with a love story that touches the right strings of your heart!
https://twitter.com/pksingh3232/status/1143069095560019968
I agree for the fact that it shows negative shades, but that is not detterent to one's creative liberty!!!
— Nishith (@NishithRoutray) June 24, 2019
Also, there are many ppl around us who may be alcoholic, drugaddicts, abusers, do we get influenced so easily. Get a grip of yourself and just let this movie be a source of entertainment! #kabirsingh
— Nitika (@imperfectnitika) June 24, 2019
If movies like these shldnt be made, then what abt Sharabi, Darr, gangsofwasseypur! Its upto an individual to apply brain. A movie cannt be held responsible. Its a damn movie!!! #drama
— Nitika (@imperfectnitika) June 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/Sachin39847979/status/1141923712918097922
Kabir singh = Master piece
— Mera naam girman naam bada badnaam (@girmankhatri) June 24, 2019
The people who have come in support of the film believe that Kabir Singh doesn’t promote stalking.
Many of them also believe that the film, quite contrary to glorifying drug abuse, shows its side effects both on health and a person’s social behavior.
Here’s what people are saying about the negative portrayal of Shahid Kapoor’s character in the film:
There is nothing wrong in portraying a negative character or toxic personality i.e Kabir Singh/Arjun Reddy. What is wrong is the character's glorification to a level where people start idolizing and following him.
— ChhooLoDaddy (@koozibisma) June 22, 2019
Nobody is saying one should be like kabir singh😅 Actors did a good job, if a movie is made on hitler and i like the movie doesn't mean I like hitler🙄 pic.twitter.com/YIJgVqk7Wp
— Abhinav Shrivastava (@bhand_insaan) June 21, 2019
Just because i loved watching kabir singh that doesn't mean i m going to take drugs and become a violent person towards my gf.Just the same way we didn't become crimilas after watching don, dhoom 2 https://t.co/IIytcNKm6f ma'am, please keep ur feminist mentality with yourself
— Prayag Raj Bhuyan (@000Prayag) June 23, 2019
Apart from strong criticism, a Mumbai based doctor has claimed that Kabir Singh shows doctors in the bad light. In addition to filing a complaint with Mumbai police, he’s written to the central Health Minister, Information and Broadcasting Ministry, State Health Ministry, and the Censor Board of Film Certification to stop the screening of the movie.
What are your thoughts after watching the film? Which side are you on? It’s an entertaining love story with a social message in disguise or pure misogyny? You decide!