Makeup makes me Beautiful
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Usha SharmaWriterCost of freedom, To be or not to be-out
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Project Type:Student, Television Script
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Number of Pages:65
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Country of Origin:United Kingdom
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Language:English
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First-time Screenwriter:Yes
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Student Project:Yes
Usha Sharma is a professional psychotherapist and counsellor. She has worked as a volunteer counsellor in many women’s centre including Hillingdon Women’s Centre where she was awarded a Certificate of Merit for her support to the community.
During the course of her career, Usha met many women and teenagers who suffered from domestic abuse, sexual abuse and abandonment issues. This got her thinking about the actual support which was available for these women. Many women were actually forced to go back to their abusive partners which resulted in horrific results.
Usha then decided to study film making with the intention of making films and documentaries which would raise awareness and educate people in these social issues which she felt strongly about. She wanted to give a voice to these people who had none.
Usha went on to pursue her Masters in Film and TV Art from the University of Westminster and then studied Producing from Metfilm school in Ealing.
She is now actively involved in filming and writing scripts about social issues and mainly focusses on issues faced by the Asian community. She recently filmed a short documentary on the discrimination and abuse faced by the Asian LGBTQI community in the Asian society by their own people and their own families.
She has also written, directed and produced a short film “Tribute to Arthur” which deals with the PTSD of a widow caused by her unfaithful husband.
Filmmaking is a passion of for Usha and she would like to make many more films which would raise awareness and focus on social issues which normally are gone unnoticed.
This is my attempt to highlight the fight of three Asian women and one Asian man against patriarchy and cumulative identity forcing them to conform to society norms.
Will these south Asian women and men finally find a voice to speak up for their rights or will they be silenced forever by the cruel society which does not accept anything outside their own rules and "normal" which has been cultured and ingrained in their own regressive norms.
When Seema, Ranu, Debbie, Sandip are faced with the dilemma of choosing between the happiness of their family or risk being abandoned by them if they choose their own happiness, will they find the courage to stand up for themselves?
In a city like London and in UK, where we would presume woman enjoy the freedom and independence to live their own lives and make their own decisions, you will be surprised to know that domestic violence, marital rape, societal pressure to conform, honor killing, forced marriages, kidnapping of children and women who rebel to the home countries, denial to education and sexual abuse are still very predominant and on the increase.
South Asians are a very closed group who do not talk about issues but bury them and pretend they do not exist. The cumulative identity forces them to succumb to societal pressures which in turn is forced on the women and children.
Mental health is not discussed and taking the help or support is a sign of weakness. They remain in their own bubble and do not “allow” their children or woman to mingle with “Britishers” as they do not want them to become “westernized".
Through my story, I have made an attempt to create awareness and highlight these issues which need addressing by the Asian community. The hypocrisy, the deceit, the pressure to conform, the regressive attitude towards the female sex and the conditional love for their children, all need to be addressed so the people can have a better chance of happiness for themselves and loved ones. Patriarchy can be as or more harmful for men as it teaches them to have this strong persona which can inhibit them from seeking help and talking about their problems which then has knock on effects.