Role Name Affiliation Principal Investigator Prof. Sumita Parmar Allahabad University, Allahabad Paper Coordinator Prof. Sisir Basu Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Content Writer/Author (CW) Vinit Kumar Gupta Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Content Reviewer (CR) Prof Sisir Basu Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi Language Editor (LE) (B) Description of Module Items Description of Module Subject Name Women’s Studies Paper Name Women, Media & Films Module Name/ Title Changing Perspective of society towards women in films Module ID Course – 10, Module - 36 Pre-requisites The reader is expected to know the changing perspective of women in Hindi commercial films and the previous scenario Objectives To define & understand how the perspective is changing in society towards working women in films. Keywords Bollywood, stereotypes, patriarchy, objectification Changing perspective of society towards women in films 1. Objectives: In this module, you will be acquainted with the changing perspective of society towards women in films particularly in the context of Indian cinema. After going through this module, you will be able to:- • describe the relation between film, society and women; • analyse portrayal of women in earlier films; • describe how women are being portrayed in contemporary films; • ascertain the impact of contemporary films on society; and • to find out changing role of women portrayed in Bollywood films 1.1 Introduction Films are the mirror of society and these reflect what happens in society. At the same time, they impact the society in different ways. In different context, this impact can be both and positive. Just as films influence society, in the same way, the society influences the content of Bollywood cinema as well. Since inception, cinema and society has had a symbiotic relationship. Films produced in India have depicted problems, issues and shortcomings in society in an effective manner. Several films have brought awareness among audiences about different issues of society. Since the film process began in India, patriarchy has been reflected in a prominent manner. In earlier films, women characters were portrayed as decorative, assertive, sympathetic and dependent on male characters. They were restricted in films only as an entertainer and a decor. The films, not only depicted women as marginalized and weak, they also institutionalised the patriarchal belief, perception and attitude in the psyche of the masses. Interesting Fact Born in August 1915 in Badayun, Ismat Chughtai is a member of the pantheon of Urdu literature. Her radical prose, indomitable spirit and revolutionary ideas made her a voice for the voiceless in a deeply patriarchal society, confronting age-old taboos and prejudices without fear, an inspirational figure for generations. Her interventions in the various internecine conflicts of gender and class in the subcontinent are as valid today as when she wrote them; her writing took these complex debates from the realm of the abstract and made them accessible to the masses. She was not afraid to provoke, nor to stand up for her right to provoke. She was a progressive, but never an ideologue. She was an iconoclast who became an icon.1 1.2 The perspectives about women in films As we have discussed already that Indian society is a patriarchal one, so we can see that women have always been subservient to men. Films have always represented women in stereotyped ways. Films not only depict women in several fixed roles but they also build a negative perception towards women in masses. In Hindi cinema, women are often depicted as weak, marginalised, and an object of entertainment. Objectification of women has led them to becoming vulnerable in society. Films have depicted negative notions about women which seem to have infected the society. 1 http://kindlemag.in/100-years-of-hindi-cinema/ 1.3 Depiction of women in films: Mostly in movies of 80s and 90s women were portrayed as marginalized and stigmatized figures in the society. They were represented as homemakers, sacrificing her dreams for the sake of societal norms and as entertainers singing, dancing and romancing with a hero. The portrayal of a protagonist sister’s character was limited to tying rakhi and getting kidnapped by antagonist. Widows were depicted as value laden and emotionless. They lived in isolation. The widows were portrayed as someone whose life was colourless and they had no right to be happy. In films, widows wore white sari only, however widows may not wear white sari in their day to day life. 1.4.1 Marginalized Generally in films, women were shown inferior to the hero. To show the masculinity of protagonist or antagonist, these female characters were depicted as subservient to the male characters. Hindi films show the characters of mothers, sisters, lovers and wives as vulnerable and the antagonists take revenge by kidnapping, murdering or molesting female characters. In Indian films usually the story revolves around the hero. He is shown as sympathizing and protecting the female characters in films. Violence and harassment against them are complimentary in many films. 1.4.2 Weak In films, women were always depicted as weak and vulnerable. They were also depicted as someone who can’t be independent. Films like Dahej (1950), Dev (1970), Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988) Pati Parmeshwar depicted weak women. Women were shown to be loyal and obedient to their husbands. Through these films, patriarchal values have been institutionalized. In most of the films, depiction of daughters or sisters is limited to marriage, rakshabandhan, and kidnapping by villain. Rural women are always portrayed as poor urging lala for money. Also, they are depicted as illiterate and living in a hut or a mud house. Sexual exploitation of women characters by the antagonist form the plot of storyline as well. By and large, women characters are restricted to being an arm candy. Women are portrayed as feeble mortals, where as men are shown to be strong and macho. 1.4.3 Serving entertainment purpose In Bollywood romancing, dancing, belle, cabaret and item songs are order of the day. Without item songs, no films are released. In the films of Bollywood, muscular heroes take the centre stage and heroines to be more glamorous and have appealing look. As films are made for the entertainment purpose of masses, the most susceptible component of entertainment in films are characters of heroines. They serve the purpose of entertainment for the audiences. Romancing with hero in park, mountain or lake is common in films. They have to dance with the hero in all kinds of locations. Item songs are very prominent in Bollywood. Almost all big budget or multi-starrer films have an item song. At times item songs become the criteria for the success of a film. Item songs and dances are often performed by a scantily clad female actor, whose character is not part of the film, but comes on the screen in a guest appearance. These are unwanted but necessary doses of entertainment. Who does not remember Mehbooba- Mehbooba item song from the film Sholey?. Heroines have to be fair, beautiful, and sensual, irrespective of the kind of roles they have in films. They also have to entertain the audience with her body, figure, sensual action and behavior. 1.4.4 Objectification of Women In Hindi cinema, there is a formula for making commercially hit films which nowadays is followed by almost every filmmaker. Woman characters have to be beautiful, irrespective of roles being played by them. These days item songs are necessary to make a film successful. Nowadays, the lyrics of many songs like Tu Cheej Badi Hai Mast Mast (Mohra), Munni Badnaam Hui (Dabang), and Shila Ki Jawani (Agnipath), contain words which demean women. After discussing about various instances, we can say that Indian cinema portrays women as a sex object and endorses the objectified male gaze. Ila patel in his research “Representation of Women in Mass Media”, says semiotic analysis of films shows that in cinema, women are represented as what they represent about themselves for men and not what they actually signify2. 1.5 Depiction of women in contemporary film: In 1991, India opened its market through globalization and liberalization. After liberalization, Indian economy has changed drastically. With the help of technical advancement, the process of modernization has started. With the advancement of technology, attitude has changed both in cinema and society. Development gears towards change; with that depiction of women in films has also changed. Now women are getting space, time and strong characters to play in films. Women oriented films are being produced and directed by famous directors. This has led to the paradigm shift in depiction of women in films from entertainment to empowerment. 2 https://www.irma.ac.in/pdf/randp/1020_53632.pdf 1.5.1 Fighting for rights Some sense of sensibility is entering Bollywood films. There are paradigm shift seen in contemporary films towards depiction of women in films. Now films are produced on women issues and their problems. In several films, they are portrayed as fighting for rights. Women characters are slowly and steadily becoming strong, independent and fighting for rights in society. Released in 2014, film Queen is one of the examples of a young and confident middle class girl in Delhi .Two days prior to her marriage; her fiancé refuses to marry her, because he wants to marry a girl who is confident and modern. He thinks that Rani is conservative and a traditional girl. She is shocked, but she moves on. She goes to Paris according to her pre booked honeymoon. There, she enjoyed her life and explored many things. After returning home, Vijay wants to get married to her but this time she dumps him. In this film, the character of Rani is depicted as having low confidence with simple background when she begins her life.