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SP Publications International Journal Of English and Studies (IJOES) An International Peer-Reviewed Journal ; Volume-2, Issue-7, 2020 www.ijoes.in ISSN: 2581-8333 RESEARCH ARTICLE REDEFINING THE CONCEPT OF EQUALITY IN INDIAN MARRIAGES: A FEMINIST ANALYSIS OF THE MOVIE ‘THAPPAD’ ________________________________________________________________________ Lakshmi B Assistant Professor on Contract Department of English Devaswom Board College Thalayolaparambu Kerala Email id: [email protected] Address: Chirackal house, Navodhya Residential Association, Athirampuzha P.O, Kottayam, Kerala ________________________________________________________________________ Abstract Keywords: Patriarchy, gender, gender Typical Indian marriages can be marked equality, feminism, self, patriarchal as the torchbearers of patriarchy. system, Feminist film theory. Starting from dowry, everything that comes under an arranged marriage gives The role of women is often an upper hand to the groom. Anubhav confusing in Indian movies. Over many Sinha’s movie named “Thappad” decades, women were mainly presented (Translated as slap) is a big slap on the as an object in majority of the Indian age old practices associated with Indian movies. For generations Indian movies marriages. The purpose of this paper is made use of female characters, just like to analyse the movie to bring out the writers use comic relief in their plays. domestic violence that is normalized in The female characters did not have any marriages. The paper also questions the significance of their own in majority of role of women in marriage. Anubhav the male oriented movies. Films, being a Sinha, through his movie presents the portrayal of the society, in a way, also innumerable compromises women are reflected the position of women in forced to make in a marriage. This paper Indian social setup. The role of women explores the unheard woes of married is always puzzling within a society as women which are suppressed by the well as in films. However, there is a society. remarkable shift in the trends of recent cinemas. At present, innumerable movies represent strong and powerful ISSN: 2581-8333 Copyright © 2020 SP Publications Page 71 SP Publications International Journal Of English and Studies (IJOES) An International Peer-Reviewed Journal ; Volume-2, Issue-7, 2020 www.ijoes.in ISSN: 2581-8333 RESEARCH ARTICLE female characters and many movies divine social practice in India as focus around female oriented subjects. everyone is expected to get married The significant shift in the themes of the within an age limit. Even at the 21st films also implies the elevated status of century many of the women find the women in the current time. difficulty to opt out marriages for their career as marriage is not regarded as an Anubhav Sinha’s celebrated option but rather as a mandatory process movie “Thappad” illustrates a strong every females are expected to undergo. statement of feminism which is very As Nandita Dhawan remarks: much needed for the empowerment of women at present. Through constant The Transfer of a woman from fights women have come a long way one family to another is the premise of crossing the path of patriarchy, however the institution of marriage in India, and they haven’t totally achieved the is ruled by negotiations based on caste, equality they have dreamed of. The class and religious boundaries. opening scenes of the movie expose Marriage, thus, is an essentially public different female characters in the movie and political act that structures and all the characters stand at different alliances, hierarchies and social shores in terms of identity and self- networks. The prime objective of respect. Some of the female characters in marriage is to reproduce the social the movie are entangled in the web of order. (149) marriage while there are a few characters who enjoys their true self rather than The central character of the depending on a male counterpart. movie “Thappad” is the character named Amrita Sandhu, a girl from a middle Indian culture is highly class family who got married to an upper supportive of the male dominance. Even middle class family. As the movie though on one side the Indian culture begins, the director has presented the praises or even glorifies women as character as a happy housewife who is goddess and deity, on the other side it ready to provide everything for her has its loopholes to supress women to husband. But the deep irony associated the core. Most of the marriages within with Indian marriages is evident from Indian culture are in favour of the groom the beginning of the movie itself. Even rather than the bride. The practice of though, Amrita seems to be happy, still dowry validates the superiority of males she can’t escape the role of a in marriages. Moreover marriage is a stereotypical wife. As a result, to a point ISSN: 2581-8333 Copyright © 2020 SP Publications Page 72 SP Publications International Journal Of English and Studies (IJOES) An International Peer-Reviewed Journal ; Volume-2, Issue-7, 2020 www.ijoes.in ISSN: 2581-8333 RESEARCH ARTICLE she doesn’t even realize that she isn’t do?” (23:02).The attitude of Vikram having a life of her own, when she reflects the common attitude of a male devotes her entire life to make her dominated society. Even at the present husband’s life comfortable. scenario, when women are given freedom to study and work, still they are All the female characters in the expected to have a reliance on the male movie have faced the harsh realities of members of the society. This is basically patriarchy at one point or the other. to reinforce the norm that social setup is While some characters could identify the developed and implemented by man. So injustice done to them, some others men should always have an upper hand aren’t even aware of the injustice they in terms of respect and position. Even are facing. One of the female characters though, some women could break the in the movie named Sunitha who comes chains of patriarchy, most of them got from a lower strata of society is a victim entangled in the web of patriarchy at of constant domestic violence. However some point or the other. Usually, Indian she was forced to bear with it mainly due movies try to reinforce the norms of to economic dependency. So it is also a patriarchy through gender stereotyping proven fact that, economically as Nidhi Tere states: dependent females are more prone to face domestic violence than an The narratives of Hindi cinema independent lady. have undoubtedly been male dominated and male centric. Themes have been The reality is that the society explored from the male audience's point never wants a female to be totally of view. The heroine is always independent without any dependence on secondary to the hero. Her role is charted the male counterpart. The society will out in context of any male character throw shade at even highly successful which is central to the script. It may be ladies simply because they could the hero, the villain, the father, the boss, manage everything so well without any an elderly male figure etc. She is devoid dependence. That is clearly evident of any independent existence and her through Amrita’s husband Vikram’s journey throughout the film is explored attitude towards their neighbour, a well in relation to the male character. This to do single mother. As Vikram kind of straight-jacketing limits the satirically dismisses her hard work with women's role to providing glamour, a sexiest remark: “Did Shivani buy a relief, respite and entertainment new car? What kind of work does she ISSN: 2581-8333 Copyright © 2020 SP Publications Page 73 SP Publications International Journal Of English and Studies (IJOES) An International Peer-Reviewed Journal ; Volume-2, Issue-7, 2020 www.ijoes.in ISSN: 2581-8333 RESEARCH ARTICLE Vikram, seems to be a perfect responsibility to sort things out. The husband from outside, but deep inside he movie portrays Amrita’s good is a typical dominating male. He doesn’t relationship with her mother-in-law. expect his wife to be successful or Unlike many of the Indian movies, the independent. All he wants from his wife mother-in-law of Amrita is not a cliché is a caretaker, who can do everything to toxic lady. Amrita’s mother-in-law is make his life smooth and better. At one somewhat moderate to the extent point, he childishly dismisses Amrita for admitting that Amrita can’t cook well. asking permission to learn driving. In However, as expected in every Indian fact, he advices her to first learn to cook marriages, the mother-in-law seems to properly. Some other time, Vikram be superordinate. All her concerns are praises his sister-in-law for cooking reserved for her son and sometimes for delicious food and asks her to teach his his son’s wife. She is not ready to accept wife to cook properly. So throughout, and love Amrita as a different Vikram’s only concern was to make individual, but as her son’s possession. Amrita a better house wife. He never She always enquires Amrita about his wishes to see Amrita as an independent son’s well-being and doesn’t bother to individual capable of taking a decision know about Amrita’s welfare. The her own. He never thinks of Amrita’s mother-in-law’s words and intention career or her feelings. He has barely no clearly suggests the purpose of the idea that Amrita is an excellent dancer marriage happened in her family. In a and she could be successful as a way, the mother-n-law is totally professional as well. This kind of responsible for what happened to ignorance from the husband’s part is a Amrita.

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