Lawyer Quotes Amitabh Bachchan’s “No Means No” Monologue From Pink In Rape Case Hearing Before Delhi HC
When I chose to pursue law after my graduation, I went in imagining scenarios where I’d get to make dramatic monologues in court. I hoped I’d get a chance to be a ‘closer’ like Harvey Specter from Suits. Or better yet, shut some sexist pig down like Jessica Pearson did in the same show. And while we all laugh, we’ve all harboured dreams of at least once getting to channel our angst at the establishment with a ‘Tareekh pe tareekh” à la Sunny Deol from Damini. I love that just as real can influence reel, it just as often happens the other way around too. And recently during the proceeding over a rape case in the Delhi High Court, a lawyer chose to quote a reel speech, specifically, the ‘No Means No’ monologue by Amitabh Bachchan from the movie Pink, to argue her case.
According to case details, the plaintiff and the defendant had been in a relationship for almost a decade. They were married to other people and even had children with them. However, the accused approached the plaintiff while she was living alone with her three children since her husband was working out of the country. The accused then, promising marriage, following which the two had consensual sexual intercourse. The accused had also given the plaintiff abortion pills since she had ended up getting pregnant. The accused’s wife had eventually spotted them together and prohibited them from seeing each other again.
Bar and Bench reports that on August 9, 2021, the case was before the Delhi High Court, where Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar, who was presiding over the case expressed his opinion that it was a consensual affair that ended up in an accusation of rape because the promise of marriage was not fulfilled.
“The accused and the prosecutrix have had a 10-year long relationship prior to the incident. Later, they got married and the complainant took advantage of the situation to indulge in a relationship outside of their marriage. Bail granted,” the Court declared.
However, advocate Anu Narula, arguing the case on behalf of the plaintiff, quoted the dialogue from Pink while talking about the concept of consent.
“Three times she was in a relationship with him. The woman admits this. If she wanted to lie, why would she admit to this also? No means no! Even if she consented to sexual intercourse with the accused ten times but not the 11th time, it means we do not have her consent.”
This isn’t the first time Pink has been cited to explain the concept of consent to someone. In February this year, there was news that Uttar Pradesh cops were using clips from movies like Pink and Darr to explain to people what consent means!
Also Read: UP Police Schools People On Consent Using Clips From Darr And Pink. We Love How Smart This Is
Narula also went on to say that she was a Bollywood fan and suggested that the presiding judge, Justice Bhatnagar , also watch the movie Pink to understand this crucial point about consent—No means No. You can watch Big B’s closing argument in Pink here:
As the entertainment landscape changes in India, and more stories like Pink broach the issues plaguing our society and women, it is evident that the audience mindset can be influenced a great deal by films and series. Let’s just hope, like in advocate Anu Narula’s case, it is for the better, making them cite stronger arguments, and usher more people into the light.
