Overview
- At the We the Women event, Azmi said the camera’s focus on body fragments in item songs makes women "surrender to the male gaze."
- She argued that some lyrics are "extremely, extremely uncomfortable" and rejected the idea that women should accept objectification because men do.
- Azmi criticized many item numbers for having no connection to a film’s story and functioning as standalone spectacle.
- She expressed worry about social normalization, citing children singing "Choli ke Peeche kya hain" as an example.
- Coverage notes the format’s enduring popularity, referencing hits like "Munni Badnaam Hui," "Sheila Ki Jawani," "Jalebi Bai," "Aaj Ki Raat" and "Dilbar."