Bollywood, Feminism and the Females of Indian Cinema

Gone are the days when we used to see men on screen and wonder how he's hitting all those men at once. We're finally seeing days where women can do the same, and with bullet-proof makeup!

How Has it Impacted Female Representation in the Film Industry

I wish there was an easy answer here. The Film Industry is stuck in a 'let's be woke' kind of storytelling at this particular time. It seems that there is nothing but wokeness expected from the Indian audience.

However, the female representation in Indian cinema has changed drastically, thanks to Bollywood's recent attachment to wokeness. The female character has gone from being an arm or eye candy, to being an actual person in films after a very long time.

We have now witnessed well-written female characters that are different from one another in multiple manners and not just in their display of femininity or makeup.

There is a personality to each of these female characters. They aren't just an accessory anymore, they're playing the main lead (Gangubai Kathiawadi, Alia Bhatt), the catalyst (Soni, Geetika Ohlyan), the villain (Monica O My Darling, Huma Qureshi) and so much more!

As rightly mentioned by Bhumi Pednekar at the Actors Roundtable 2022, women in the film industry have created a newfound respect for themselves by rejecting films that do not have well-written characters for them. It's a step taken in the right direction!

The 'Actors' Roundtable in 2021, where women were given a seat on the table instead of creating the 'Female Actors Roundtable'

Female Empowerment Through Bollywood Films

Not sure if 'female empowerment' has been the agenda for filmmakers when they make these films, because they tend to go back to their previous tricks. A very subtle example is of the film 'Uunchai' which has an ensemble cast with Amitabh Bachchan, Danny Dangzongpa, Boman Irani and Anupam Kher. The three female characters in the film have a substantial role in the film, and have been played by three beautiful and talented women - Neena Gupta, Sarika and Parineeti Chopra.

But when it comes to this scene where the characters are on a trek at sub zero temperatures - you see Parineeti Chopra with a full face of makeup.

Bollywood feminism is a facade because it creates a vague picture of an independant woman. She can be a trek instructor, but she still has perfect skin, perfect makeup at all times and keeps her hair flying across her face, no matter what.

Its a relief that Indian Cinemamakers have finally started looking at women as an asset that can add value to the story other than improving its aesthetics.

Shefali Shah and Vidya Balan in Jalsa

Actors such as Tapsee Pannu, Priyanka Chopra, Konkona Sen Sharma, etc. are making sure they pick roles that showcase the lives of women, not just their beauty.

Tapsee Pannu in Rashmi Rocket

Having said that, films by Indian filmmakers have not reached a point that rejects conditioning or helps the audience unlearn their biases regarding women. There is a transition that is currently taking place - in order to seem more intellectual than Indian Cinema factualy is. This transition is the what will prepare the runway to take off for feminism to truly prevail in Bollywood and the Film Industry in India.