Independant Study

Independent Study “..This is my house. Who’s going to stop me..?”[1]
“Does Provoked (2006) demonstrate a typical stereotype of the Asian male?”

Provoked (2006) paints a picture of the true story of Kiranjit Ahluwalia a violent abused Punjabi housewife and mother of two in London, who sets her husband on fire and kills him. Her response was due to 10 years of physical and mental abuse, which threatened her life. The film directed by Jag Mundhrah, reveals the role of the male protagonist, Deepak, throughout the film Deepak continues to be controlling, and abusive. This story presents to us the stereotypical attitudes of the dominant Asian male. The film Provoked was publicly available to view because it allows people to address the issue of ‘domestic violence’ amongst Asians and creates awareness of what potentially occurs in Asian family households. It is important because, this issue as been ‘covered up’ for too long and Provoked attracted a wide range of audiences, both British and non-British to witness the struggle that Kiranjit had to face to keep her family together. The film is a British drama genre, even though having elements of Indian filming; all these elements add to the authenticity of the film as they allow Provoked to attract a wider audience and attempt to create discussions amongst different cultures. The elements are the “Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai in the title role, but is much grittier than a typical Bollywood film.[2]” The Bollywood crowds want singing and dancing and fantasy land," [3]says the director, Jag Mundhra. "This is too realistic and hard-hitting to be Bollywood."[4] Having Ashwaria Rai play such a dominant role, makes way for a larger target audience to watch the film, as both western and eastern parts of the world. Additionally, the use of Punjabi language throughout the film recognize her is an element of Indian cinema, which helps add to the realism and also the way the language in the film is expressed will help viewers relate to the victim. Provoked was made to bring awareness of about ‘domestic violence’ and the silence of many women suffering domestic violence, 12.8% of Asian women reported experiencing physical assault by an intimate partner at least once during their lifetime; 3.8% reported having been raped[5]. Provoked was made able to view in cinema in China the middle east, east/west Africa, Spain ,Africa ,Indonesia, Czech Republic and India[6], showing the popularity of the film, even though the film was released in a different language.
The representation of Deepak is harsh and controlling. We see this throughout many scenes from Provoked however to recall the time were he allows Kiranjit to dance with his friend but as she sits down, he gets angry and accuses her of flirting with the friend, knowing this is untrue, afterward this gives him reason to show his authority by beating up Kiranjit in the kitchen. This representation could have been constructed to make entertainment, for the viewers even though the film is based on a true story. The construction makes the film more engaging for the audience. Jag Mundhrah is an Asian director yet the ways in which he represented Deepak is surprising. This is because he is an Asian male and he is representing one too, on the other hand helps him to realize and relate to how certain manners should be directed. Therefore, he has obviously constructed his own views on Deepak and perhaps, his creation of the film has made a way for a more harsh representation of Deepak. So he too believes in this ‘typical’ stereotype as he created it.

A stereotype is an exaggerated belief that can be positive or negative but generalizes without allowing for differences. They are used to categorize people into specific ideas of how people act throughout Provoked the representation of Deepak seems to be a fair and accurate one, because the film is a true story we are able to get first hand experience told to the audience with no exaggerations or misinterpretations. Dominant stereotypes of Asian men characterize them as effeminate (frail, meek, and passive) or as sexual deviants.[7] Similar to the author Rudyard Kipling, who came to fame after writing ‘The Jungle Book’[8], the story about ‘Mowgli’ a little Indian boy and about how he went back to his town with his tiger. Moreover, Kipling played a big role in the generation of stereotypes about Asians because he agreed with most people’s perceptions and too represented Asian men as cowardly. This is very different to what we witnessed from Deepak: he was very masculine and powerful different from the typical stereotype. Although on the other hand, dominant stereotypes of Asian men are socially awkward and sexually undesirable[9], in Provoked in, we saw a scene where Kiranjit was forced to sleep with Deepak, and because of her duty as a wife, she did so even though she did not want too, it was not in her willpower to say ‘no’. Asian men are believed to be the ‘breadwinners’ of the families therefore, a woman must comply with them and do as he says because she does not play a big role in the family.

The rise in British Asian culture and economic status has increased ( known as the ‘brown pound’[10]) that suggests that Asians have a more dominant role in society nowadays, hence the reason Provoked may have been produced in order to display and confront the issue, therefore allowing an Asian female to speak out about her ordeal. This is surprising because Deepak is a British Asian and while it is true that young British Asians are adopting a more individualistic culture as opposed to family-led traditions, in many ways [11]this can be quite liberating; especially when it comes to exposing issues such as domestic violence.” Although according to this Deepak follows, his family led traditions and so, he is very dissimilar to the other Asians, who would perhaps be more laid back. However speaking of stereotypes, many people believe Asians to be strict upon their family values and for a man to carry on his family’s morals and principles. This could be because he may project all his bad thoughts and ideas that he wanted to get up to on Kiranjit so she would be represented as the Other.[12]

Asians mostly entered Britain in the 1970’s, the term British Asian is used for British citizens of South Asian ancestry or South Asian immigrants to the United Kingdom. Britain's large South Asian population is mostly a legacy of its long hegemony and colonial rule over India. Asians were seen as second-class citizens throughout, which where widely classified by the common term “‘No Blacks, No Dogs, and No Irish.[13] Never- the- less as a social group, Asian people have earned social power and economic status throughout their short time in Britain. The Postcolonial theory deals with the reading and writing of literature written in previously or currently colonized countries, or literature written in colonizing countries, which deals with colonization. Post colonialism is not necessary ‘after colonialism as taken place, even though politically there was any colonialism.’ With regards to Provoked, colonialism is still seen to affect the relationship between west and east. Therefore, Deepak’s attitude and believes may be fuelled from his family’s backgrounds even though he is living in Britain. According to Homi Bhabha, who believed we have gone beyond east vs. west, it is not a case of that anymore, nor is it a case for Britain vs. India. There is a ‘Third Space of Enunciation[14]' and “Hybridity.” [15]This is the cultural hybridity and interaction of two cultures. This shows Asians in this text as leaving their past days behind.

Stereotypes of an Asian according to audience’s responses are that they are lazy, untrustworthy, uneducated strict and controlling. These exist due to racism from other cultures and people. This is evident by looking at films such as “East is East (1999[16])” the film is based on the play by Ayub Khan-Din, and is directed by Damien O ’Donnell. The film is about George Khan (Om Puri), set in Salford in 1971,it tells the story of a Pakistani man and his Caucasian wife (Ella Khan) and their children having been born and brought up in Britain, increasingly see themselves as British and start to reject their father's rules, on the way to live according to Islam . Throughout the film, the children are amongst themselves labeling each other as ‘Pakis’ “Mum! Mum! The Pakis are here!” [17] .This is said by Sajid one of the children in the family. In a specific scene ‘Mr. Moorhouse’, a British neighbour talks about his mixed race neighbours, “See. You let one of 'em in, and the whole fuckin' tribe turns up[18].” This quote says a lot about attitudes in society as it demonstrates the English to have stereotypical views on Asians. However, it may also show that those comments were used to create humor and could only be an exaggerated version of what white British people used to believe.


In addition, “East is east[19]” also confronts issues of domestic violence amongst Asian men, as we see Ella being beaten up by her Pakistani husband. She gets beaten up because she chooses to stick up for her sons; Asian husbands expect their wifes to stand by them at all times whether they are right or wrong.” Asian men are sexist pigs who expect their wives to stay in the kitchen, not speak unless being spoken to, walk five paces behind their husband, and bear as many children as necessary until they give their husband a son.”[20] The representation of George as a Pakistani father is he is very strict and sets boundaries that he does not expect his children or wife to cross them. This conforms to the views of Asian men, that if they do not get their way they will resort to violence as a way to give them power and masculinity. This stereotype may have come from for people with racist views, since 9/11, the views on Pakistani men or any ‘Muslim’ men have increased to be negative, as they are all seen as ‘terrorists’ or person with radical and extreme view.


As seen in a specific scene from Provoked, we see evidence of domestic violence taking place, in this particular scene Deepak feels his manhood is threatened because his wife is asking him questions and women should not speak out to men, as it would relate to violence because he has not got his way. Therefore, when Deepak is seen taking money from the cupboard, Kiranjit walks in to the bedroom with a curious look on her face, obviously unaware of what he is up to, until later, she realizes. She then asks him why is he taking the money, he says he needs £70 for the house phone bill she then say’s I know where you are going, and asks how will she manage to pay the household bills, he snidely replies ask your brother I am sure he will help his younger sister. She then confronts him and says I know where you are going, obviously referring to a prostitute, then she then replies stay at home because she is carrying his baby and he should be ashamed. Because of that, he pushes her down the stairs to get out of his way. After Deepak pushes her he realizes the consequences of his actions, and then repeatedly asks her if the baby is okay, he then attempts to comfort her and reassure himself that he has not done wrong, by saying that he gets angry and confused, similar to many ideas about the typical stereotype. This also enforces the patriarchal ideology enforced through Asian families and within men, who are categorized as being controlling and demanding. In the sequence of events Kiranjit is wearing an Asian dress (suit) which shows her femininity and her loyalty to her culture, she also enters the room with a basket of clothing in her hand, representing her as the typical Asian housewife. The blue suit she is wearing with her scarf wrapped around her neck, and her hair is tied back into a plait connoting her 'innocence' and her eastern way of life, which she is loyal to. Compared to Deepak who is very westernized, and he may feel that due to his ‘British upbringing’ as he arrived in the country before her, he can be even more controlling over her. As he has the upper hand. Furthermore, because she has emigrated from India so she is ‘unlikely’ to tell of her torture because she would not want to giver her parents any grief, or she “did not want to say anything and spoil my family's excitement," she says, "and I hoped it would not continue .He would push me about, yank my hair, hit me and drop heavy pans on my feet. I was treated like a slave.[21]

This was the words of Kiranjit herself, until obviously one day she does have the will power to speak out that is not very common in Asian women. Due to them feeling their private lives should remain private. Moreover, by Kiranjit revealing the torture in a way demonstrates how she has developed ideas from the western world how these attitudes Deepak is showing are not correct in the ways of living and bring up the family in a correct manner. Furthermore, the lighting in the bedroom scene is low key and very dark; this coincides with the mood of the room. There is non- diegetic sound when Kiran gets pushed down the stairs of a woman 'humming', this sound is similar to what Kiran is going through which creates a pain for the audience which enables sympathy for Kiranjit, so the audience get an understanding of what dramas she is going through. The audience is positioned to relate to Kiranjit as they have ‘witnessed’ what has happened; therefore, the audience feels engage and a ‘part’ of the film due to this. This could be linked to the ‘hypodermic needle’ which suggests that the mass media could influence a very large group of people directly and uniformly by ‘shooting’ or ‘injecting’ them with appropriate messages designed to trigger a desired response [22]. Therefore Jag Mundhrah may have purposely ‘constructed’ the film with the editing skills to make Deepak conform to the typical Asian stereotype. What we see in this scene is typical ‘under a patriarchal regime, women are, by definition, excluded from positions of power and authority’[23] ; from this the audience get an insight into an Asian woman’s troubles and see what is going on behind closed doors.


Asian culture is ever changing. This is evident because of the growth in ‘interest in Asian fashion, home furnishings, and culture.’[24] As time has passed on Asian culture within parents, religious and cultural morals have become less relevant on how life should be lived. This has been influenced by the means of the society. This has had a major effect on the teachings towards the new generation on the culture of their background. Looking at the new generation we can see, the majority of parents with a cultural background have resisted against teaching cultural morals to there children for various reasons, e.g. believe it is too harsh or are against the teachings.
Nowadays, Asian culture is changing but it still keeps together the main teachings of Asian parents with Indians being the highest earners, in many cases this is known as the ‘brown pound’[25],” the relative success of many Hindus and Sikhs in achieving educational success, entering professions, and building business.”[26]

The changing role of feminism also helped to show how Asian culture has developed because in the film Provoked we see that Kiranjit was helped out by the local ‘Southall Black sisters’ is a non-profit organization which was established in 1979 to meet the needs of black (Asian and African-Caribbean) women[27]. Kiranjit was their first case, which they helped to free and get her acquitted of her husband’s murder. Without the help of Southall Black Sisters, it was unlikely that Kiran would have been freed, so because of organizations like that Asian culture is becoming more open, due to Provoked being shown in public cinemas, Asian women are speaking out, more than before. Currently their is a debate about the funding for the ‘Southall Black Sisters’ The Black and Asian domestic violence support group have been protesting against the Council's plans to scrap their grant[28]. This shows that in today’s society maybe the need for these organizations are not required, as women are more confident and do not need to rely on such organizations.

Sholay (1975) is the story of a Police Officer, who a bandit named Gabbar Singh killed family, decides to fight fire with fire and recruits two convicts, Jai and Veeru, to help him to bring in Gabbar Singh alive - for a hefty price. [29] The relevance to the study is that Provoked shows the typical Asian stereotype only this is challenged in Sholay as we see scenes of violence, similar to Provoked but we do not see Deepak acting as a hero according to Vladimir Propp who believes everyone fits in specific character roles. In one scene of Sholay we see the Asian hero, rescuing the damsel in distress and acting as her hero, we see no evidence of this throughout Provoked. Provoked does not enforce the ‘hero’ we can all associate with throughout Asian films, we see a calculating and scheming husband, throughout the film. Sholay helps to ‘destroy’ the stereotype of Asian men, because this pre 1990 text shows us how Asian men are usually perceived, and this stereotype may be wrong. Moreover, the films portray less of a negative role of Asian men.

In conclusion, Provoked has impacted on many peoples lives and therefore will play a big part in today’s movement in Asian culture. This shows that people do report domestic violence, and therefore there are ways to overcome it. If Kiranjit did not make her story public thousands of people across the world would be unaware of these situations which take place behind closed doors and are not spoken of, the success of Provoked which made £140 104[30], in the first two days of viewing. The film itself has helped many people come to terms with domestic violence. The future holds way for positive stereotyping of Asian men, as many Asian men are concentrated on becoming strongly educated before they enter globally rich countries to give them a ‘head start’ or to compete with others Due to this Asian males have become very successful entrepreneurs and becoming recognized for the levels of commitment and hard work. Therefore, the Asian stereotype has significantly changed and Asian men are no longer considered as a liability or ‘untrustworthy’ as once believed in colonial times. Confidently there is going to be space for men to ‘break away’ from these kind of typecasts.
(Word count: (3,175)
[1] http://www.provokedthemovie.com/trailer.html
[2]http://www.guardian.co.uk/wohttp://www.provokedthemovie.com/distributors.htmlmen/story/0,,2049504,00.html
[3]http://www.guardian.co.uk/wohttp://www.provokedthemovie.com/distributors.htmlmen/story/0,,2049504,00.html
[4] http://www.guardian.co.uk/wohttp://www.provokedthemovie.com/distributors.html men/story
[5] http://www.apiahf.org/apidvinstitute/ResearchAndPolicy/factsheet.htm /0,,2049504,00.html
[6] http://www.provokedthemovie.com/distributors.html
[7] Lee, Jenifer (2004) Routledge Publishings Asian American Youth: Culture, Identity and ethnicity pg 129
[8] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061852/
[9] Lee, Jenifer (2004) Routledge Publishing’s Asian American Youth: Culture, Identity and ethnicity pg 129
[10] http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3129178.stm
[11] http://www.pickledpolitics.com/archives/872
[12] http://www.iep.utm.edu/f/freud.htm
[13] http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/seth_freedman/2007/01/no_blacks_no_dogs_no_irish.html
[14] http://www.eng.fju.edu.tw/Literary_Criticism/postcolonism/bhabha.htm
[15] Bhabha, Homi (2004) Routledge Publishing’s: The Location of Culture pg 402
[16] Khan-Din, Ayub (1997) Nick Hern Books: East is East
[17]http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166175/quotes
[18] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166175/quotes
[19] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0166175/
[20] http://www.bitterasianmen.com/parents.html
[21] http://www.guardian.co.uk/women/story/0,,2049504,00.html
[22]http://www.tcw.utwente.nl/theorieenoverzicht/Theory%20clusters/Mass%20Media/Hypodermic_Needle_Theory.doc/
[23] A. Cranny-Francis, P.Stavropoulos, J.Kirkby (2003) Palgrave Macmillan Publishing’s :Gender Studies Terms and Debates pg244
[24] Malik, Sarita (2002) Representing Black Britain, London: Sage Publications pg 178
[25] http://www.redhotcurry.com/views/asians1.htm
[26] Race, ethnicity and nationalism pg 132
[27] http://www.southallblacksisters.org.uk/
[28] http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2008/02/28/ealing_blacksisters2_feature.shtml
[29] http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0073707/plotsummary
[30] http://www.allocine.co.uk/film/fichefilm_gen_cfilm=108789.html