A Darker Side of Fair

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Culture Documentary directed by Deepak Leslie and published by Documentary Educational Resources in 2004 - English narration

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Shedding new light upon issues of global diversity, this documentary focuses on the extent to which a "fairness fetish" has permeated various levels of Indian society. Today in India fairness is a benchmark for beauty; marriages are decided on the basis of skin color; and fair means "lucky" whereas dark means "ugly". Fair skin as an ideal exists in all facets of Indian life: fashion, marriage, advertising etc. Although historically women have been burdened with the need to conform to the societal perception of the "light-skinned beauty", increasingly today even young Indian men feel the need to opt for products and processes to enhance their skin tone.

While the origins of the fair-skinned ideal can be traced back to the ancient Indian epics of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, today Western influences and media pressure have resulted in a growing market for fairness products and skin lightening treatments. Fairness is a serious business in India, one with intensely psychological ramifications. With a focus on the emotional and psychological impact, this film addresses the historical and contemporary factors that contribute to the pressures thrust upon Indian women by a society obsessed with fair skin.

The film's director, Deepak Leslie, has worked in various roles in the Indian film industry since the early nineties when he was an assistant cameraman and production coordinator in advertising and commercials. He then became a correspondent and writer for a theme-based monthly program Eminence, and later a correspondent/cameraperson for Doordharshan New Channel, the state-owned television network in India. Most recently, he worked as a field producer for the National Geographic Channel's Taboo series and Hunter and Hunted in India.