Women and Sexuality in Indian Cinema - 1984 Words

WOMEN, SEXUALITY AND INDIAN CINEMA By Shoma A. Chatterji WORD-COUNT: 1900 Recent films like Tauba Tauba, Murder, Julie and Jism have focussed on something not explored before in mainstream cinema - the sexuality of the Indian woman. Though this has given the director and producer ample scope for exploring the anatomy of the woman in a hundred different ways to lure the box office, the one positive spin-off of these films is that they have uncovered the sexual desires of the Indian woman. The woman need not be beautiful though it is mandatory that she has a beautiful body. The woman need not be single either. Sexuality of women in Indian cinema has historically been ignored so far as women’s autonomous expression of†¦show more content†¦The top-angle shots painfully bring across Phoolan’s vulnerability and senseless humiliation, true. But it is also true that for once, Kapoor definitely and unambiguously designs the camera to turn voyeur in a deliberate attempt to attract the attention of a global audience. Not surprising therefore, that the Academy of Motion Picture and Arts chose to rate Bandit Queen among the ten best films ever made. However, the same film also acknowledges the sexual desire of Phoolan when she falls in love with Vikram Mallah. When Vikram is recovering from a gunshot wound in the thigh, in hiding in Kanpur, Phoolan strides atop him and makes love to him like a man, the more aggressive partner in sex. It underscores the mutations in the life and style of an unlettered woman who has been subjected to repeated rape, who has grown into a sexu ally aggressive woman, who no longer shies away from her physical needs. Whether this is a consequence of her acquiring the male masquerade or, is due to her passion for Vikram remains ambiguous. Did Mansi in Basu Bhattacharyas film Aastha commit adultery? This is a rather piquant question since the fact of her sleeping around with men who are not her husband/s is undercut by the fact that she is paid for the services she renders. In other words, she is a prostitute who sells herselfShow MoreRelatedBollywood and Gender1572 Words   |  7 PagesResearch Proposal Aim: To study and compare the role of women in some of the women centric Hindi films released between 1980 to 1990 and 2000 and 2010. Objective: To study the issues of gender, caste, development that were perceived in Indian cinema then and now in women centric films. A comparative study about the representation of women in Indian cinema then and now in women centric films. Scope: There are a numerous women centric films that are created in diverse languages around the worldRead MoreThe Status Of A Woman Essay1846 Words   |  8 PagesWomen have served all these centuries as looking glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice it’s natural Size – Virginia Woolf. The topic that I’ve chosen for my essay is The Status of A Woman in South Indian or specifically Malayalam Cinema. The first question the arises in my mind while watching any Malayalam movie is why does the nationally and internationally acclaimed Malayalam Cinema fail to represent women’s experiences, Why are The Female leadsRead MoreThe Status Of A Woman Essay1935 Words   |  8 PagesWoolf, which goes as, â€Å"Women have served all these centuries as looking glasses possessing the magic and delicious power of reflecting the figure of man at twice it’s natural Size† The topic that I’ve chosen for my essay is The Status of A Woman in South Indian or specifically Malayalam Cinema. The first question the arises in my mind while watching any Malayalam movie is why does the nationally and internationally acclaimed Malayalam or for that matter any South Indian Cinema fail to represent women’sRead MoreBold Gets Bolder : 1990s 2013857 Words   |  4 Pagesarrival of the 1990s, kissing became a common trend on the screen. However, it was actors Karisma Kapoor and Aamir Khan s minute-long kiss in 1996 film Raja Hindustani which caused a stir. Following on the footsteps of their predecessors, new Indian filmmakers took this concept of on-screen boldness to a whole new level. In the 2003 film Khwahish , director Govind Menon made actors Mallika Sherawat and Himanshu Malik lock lips 17 times on screen. The film tanked at the box-office though itRead More100 Years of Indian Cinema - 11448 Words   |  6 Pages100 YEARS OF INDIAN CINEMA Indian Cinema has now completed 100 years on April 21, 2012, a country where over 1,000 films are made every year, in several languages. During these long years Indian cinema has broken many new grounds and established several milestones. The Times of India, Indias major newspaper then, hailed it as the marvel of the century. As writer and essayist Mukul Kesavan wrote, The art of the cinema was fashioned in India at the same time as it was developed in the West. TheRead MoreIndi The Biggest Film Industry1329 Words   |  6 PagesBollywood is almost a religion for the people who live in India; it is the biggest film industry in terms of sale. As Dagnaud and Fiegelson describe the situation, Ranking number one in the world for the film production, being part of the top group of the cinema enthusiast nations, endowed with T.V. channels and with a music industry full of dynamism, India has thus developed an entertainment industry of large size movies playing the role of a launching pad. According to the Telecom Regulatory AuthorityRead MoreCinema As A Mirror Of Society Essay2011 Words   |  9 PagesCinema is considered to be a mirror of society, since ages it has evolved itself with the changing issues and priorities of the vulnerable society. With the passage of time the industry has not only grown in terms of business but has evolved in its core of direction and production. In present times cinema is not considered as a tool of entertainment rather it’s a tool of communication setting agenda’s for audience and vice versa. The subject matter and treatment of Hindi films have changed in currentRead MoreFemale Representation in Hindi Mainstream Cinema2185 Words   |  9 PagesSTATEMENT TO THE PROBLEM Cinema is meant and believed to entertain, to take the viewer to a world that is starkly different from the real one, a world which provides escape from the daily grind of life. Cinema is a popular media of mass consumption which plays a key role in moulding opinions, constructing images and reinforcing dominant cultural values. Hindi cinema has been a major point of reference for Indian culture in this century. It has shaped and expressed the changing scenarios of modernRead MoreIs Sex Education Necessary in School?1123 Words   |  5 Pagesimportant issue. A 2007 ministry of women and child development study shows that over 50 percent of children are sexually abused. Sex is still considered a taboo in India. Parents feel embarrassed to talk openly with their children in this regard. Due to the ignorance of sex education they fall victim to AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Many NGOs are trying to create awareness on AIDS. Sex education can help people to take decisions regarding health and sexuality. It is high time for sex-educationRead MoreQueer Hindi Cinema: A Study On Understanding Lgbt Identities.1852 Words   |  8 PagesQueer Hindi Cinema: A Study on Understanding LGBT Identities Pushpinder Kaur PhD Research Scholar Department of Journalism and Mass Communication Punjabi University, Patiala Email: pushpinder_21@yahoo.co.in Abstract Cinema is undoubtedly the greatest thing to have happened to the queer movement in India. Sexual minority comprises of all those people who fall under the categories of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender. India is one of the many countries where homosexuality is still considered