Dr. Akshata Narain, Group President of AM Television, a dentist by profession and is now one of the leading women leaders in the northeast news television industry.
Digital Desk: International Women's Day is observed in many countries around the world. It is a day when women are recognised for their accomplishments regardless of national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic, or political boundaries.
This year, Sony Pictures Networks India's Distribution division uniquely celebrated Women's Day, not like the regular run celebrations. They hosted a panel discussion with a diverse group of women from various walks of life who have excelled in industries and roles that have traditionally been dominated by men.
Makarand Palekar, EVP Distribution Sales and Marketing, welcomed the panellists and congratulated them on their important roles in the company's success. He cited examples of how powerful women have positively influenced his life, both personally and professionally.
The three panellists including Dr. Akshata Narain (Group President AM Television Pvt. Ltd. (AXOM)), Jamie Lever (Daughter of Johnny Lever, a well-known Indian actor and comedian), and Dr. Nirmala Kotnis (Former Indian Badminton Player and Lead Operations at Padukone Sports Management Academy) shared their journey, experiences and insights with the hosts Indranil Basu (sports journalist) and Subhasri Prasad, Head Marketing, Sony Pictures Networks Distribution.
Dr. Akshata Narain, Group President of AM Television, a dentist by profession and is now one of the leading women leaders in the northeast news television industry.
Jamie Lever, a graduate in media studies and the daughter of renowned actor-comedian Johnny Lever, decided to leave her illustrious corporate job to pursue a career as a stand-up comedian. She began her on-screen career with 'Comedy Circus' on Sony Entertainment Television, where she honed her mimicry skills. She is now a well-known comedian and one of the most prominent young female comedians, with a cult fan base.
Talking about the next panellist, Dr. Nirmala Kotnis, a former international badminton player, ex-Income Tax Commissioner, and Marathi theatre artist, is now the Operations Director at The Padukone Sports Academy.
Jamie discussed how difficult it was for her to break into the industry despite being the daughter of a well-known comedian; being the daughter of a well-known comedian did not open doors for her, and she had to work just as hard as anyone else.
Taking over from her father and running a news channel and other operations was not easy for Dr. Akshata because the cable industry is dominated by men. But she overcame all obstacles and is now a famous in the northeast. Dr. Nirmala, on the other hand, had to leave her job as an Income Tax Commissioner and relocate to Nasik in order to pursue her first love, badminton. She now oversees operations at the Padukone Sports Academy and is the sport's first female commentator, in addition to her work as an actor in Marathi theatre and films.
"Let us not talk about a woman being better than a man or that we need to be like men. These are terminologies that no longer make sense. What I believe is that there are jobs that a man can do far better than a woman, and vice versa; it is all about calibre, not gender, so it is all about the equal opportunity... This protracted battle for gender equality has derailed the pursuit of equity. This is something I have always believed in, even as a child. This is my life motto; I am someone who believes in change, and change is the only constant in life, so I work hard for it day and night," talking over the topic of equity, Dr. Akshata said.
She added, "I know I am privileged, and I want to use this to make a difference in my state in whatever small way I can. The television industry in which I work is a tremendously powerful medium for amplifying the message I want to convey to the world. The first project I worked on was gender equality, which included the LGBTQ+ community and giving them equal access to the workplace. I truly believe that television can effect change, and that "one must be the change one wishes to see in the world."
"All of the work I do in my state on mental health awareness, gender equality, and environmental issues, using the privilege I have, is to be the voice of anyone who needs support and the opportunity to rise in life." When I first started in this male-dominated industry, it was difficult because no one wanted a young girl as their boss. We had created a few policies to give women more space, but they were not well received. Ajit Kumar Bhuyan, our then-chief editor, was standing behind me. This is a beautiful example of how men can sometimes play an important role in uplifting women, which is admirable."
"Today in the entertainment field, age does not matter, and women actors in their 50's are getting meaty roles, and the industry has become open and letting a woman take charge. Today, being a good actor is all that matters, and if you have the talent, looks and body shape don't matter. You are cast in a role because it is a good fit for you. It is an exciting time for us as women in the industry, and female comedians are no longer typecast as they once were. Today, everyone wants to hear what we have to say, and audiences are willing to listen," expressing her views Jamie added.
When Subhasri Prasad inquired about women juggling multiple roles and whether a woman needed to be a Superwoman,
Dr. Nirmala stated that it had only happened to her. She went through a difficult pregnancy, and her mother was her rock during that time, but she died in February 2018. She had twins to look after and worked at the Income Tax Department in Mumbai.
"I had a difficult time because I was denied leave and other privileges." I had to knock on many doors before the Chief Commissioner, who was a mentor and who inspired me to be who I am, allowed me to take two years' leave at once."
My husband was posted in Chennai, so I had to look after the babies. Since I am not one to sit idle, opportunities presented themselves, and I decided to take them. I had to do my motherly duties of caring for my children, but badminton is my passion and first love, and acting happened at the same time.
I've always enjoyed taking on new challenges, and I enjoy every aspect of what I do. As a result, it comes naturally to me."
"The definition of a superwoman or superhero from the past has to change. Who makes these decisions? Everyone is a superhero in their own right. At the end of the day, we must do what brings us joy." "One needs to be happy with oneself and happy about the work one does before imposing oneself on a partner," she continued. If you are unhappy, the relationship will eventually fail. Your partner will be happier if you are self-sufficient and happy," Akshata stated.
On the question of what changes one would like to see in their respective fields and in the societal mindset.
Dr. Nirmala said, "When it comes to sports like badminton, many of the girls drop out by the time they reach the senior level. We all talk about equality, but there is a significant disparity between male and female players. There used to be one Saina, and now there is only one Sindhu. We've discovered that a lot of female talent is filtered. Most parents of girls believe that by participating in and winning a few nationals, their daughters will be able to get a job in the government. There is also a significant difference in terms of price money. If we're talking about equity, this discrimination must end, and my one piece of advice to parents is to adopt a different mindset."
Jamie Lever, who has been a woman content creator for the past 10-11 years, stated that girls must deal with inherent biases that are deeply ingrained in our society. Jamie recalled how, as a child, she was encouraged to pursue stereotypically feminine careers such as jewellery or fashion design.
Akshata mentioned coming from a Tier 2 metro where the values are different and where there is a lack of content that depicts women in powerful roles. There are stories of strong women in the north-east that have not been widely publicised. "I believe that as organisations, we should have taken the initiative to tell these stories sooner so that we would have been well represented."
"I'd like to change that by producing content in which women are portrayed as strong characters and serving as an inspiration to a broad audience through television." I'd like to change the content produced for TV, OTT, and films, all of which are produced in the northeast. We are creating more women-oriented and women-centric content in Assamese to reach more people and change their perceptions.
She continued by stating, "As women with influence, whether it's Jamie, Nirmala, or me, we should use our platforms to educate people in rural and semi-urban areas where girls are held back." There is a need to fund their education. Also, it sends the message that education only prepares you to be a better person; what you pursue in life is your own, and you must follow your passion and fight for it."
The panel discussion was free-flowing and insightful, revealing not only the speakers' grit and passion but also their fun side.
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