The Fame Game, Madhuri Dixit’s much talked about web debut, was finally released on Netflix on Friday, February 25. As evident from the trailer, it tells the story of the sudden disappearance of an actress. The eight-episode-long series touches upon various aspects of Anamika’s life – her bond with her family members, her fading stardom, her love for her co-star etc. The subplots of Anamika’s son, daughter, Anamika’s stalker fan and the lady cop trying to make a mark in a male-dominated world also get prominence in the web series.
However, one track that stands out is that of Anamika’s equation with her mother (Suhasini Mulay). Her mother pulls all the strings and Anamika moves as per her wishes. It was her mom who pushed her into acting, hoping that it’ll change the fortunes of her family. She even compelled Anamika to marry her long-lost cousin, Nikhil More (Sanjay Kapoor), much against the wishes of the actress. Moreover, the mother, along with Nikhil, now even control the finances that Anamika brings to the house. For an outsider, Anamika might seem to be in a position wherein she must be having the freedom to do what she wants. However, in her household, no one even asks her about what she desires. Instead, her mother plans each and every step on her behalf. When she and Nikhil realize that Anamika’s comeback is about to flop, they decide to sell their palatial mansion. Nikhil even books a dance show for her in Dubai for the next months ‘to keep her busy’. Of course, this is also done so that she stays away from her ex-boyfriend, actor Manish Khanna (Manav Kaul). However, her consent is not taken even once. At one point, Anamika rightfully compares herself to the golden goose.
Interestingly, a flashback scene shows an underage Anamika who’s upset with her mother for forcing her into the acting profession. Her kind-hearted helper, Lata, tries to console Anamika by saying that once she grows up, she can do whatever she wants and make her own decisions. Little did Anamika know then that it was never going to happen.
Coincidentally, this intense and disturbing track has an eerie resemblance to that of the Britney Spears conservatorship dispute. It was one of the most talked about events of 2021 and involved pop singer Britney Spears’ fight with her father. For those who were not aware, her finances and personal life were controlled by her father, James Spears for 13 years, under a form of legal guardianship called a conservatorship. This was happening since 2007 after she started behaving erratically post her divorce, and after she lost custody of her two children. She shaved her head, assaulted paparazzi with an umbrella and was charged with a hit-and-run, involving a parked car. She was also into rehab multiple times, and thus the conservatorship commenced.
It was in the beginning of 2019 that the public was informed that Britney is facing abuse due to the conservatorship. Soon, #FreeBritney became a routine hashtag on social media and more and more people around the world began speaking about it. The matter went to court and on June 23, 2021, Britney Spears testified that she was forced to work or perform and that she was threatened with lawsuits and lifestyle restrictions if she refused to obey the orders. She further revealed that she was administered drugs like lithium without her consent and she has been prevented from marrying and having a child. Finally, on September 29, 2021, the judge suspended James Spears as the conservator. The conservatorship was terminated with immediate effect on November 12, the same year.
Several documentaries were made on this controversy. New York Times’ Framing Britney Spears played a huge role in making people aware of the conservatorship. Another popular documentary on this row was Britney vs Spears, which was incidentally released on Netflix, just like The Fame Game.
Obviously, The Fame Game didn’t show Anamika under any sort of conservatorship. However, the way she was a puppet in the hands of her parent while from the outside, she seemed to be in control of her life, gave a strong déjà vu of Britney Spears and her struggles.
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