Cinema is one of the most revered media art form that has a universal appeal. Cinema has been a point of debate and discussion for decades. The constant wriggling of cinema related contentions has led to some astonishing discoveries making it a den of potentially more unexplored areas of academic interest. With this in consideration, this study aims to examine and compare the portrayal of male and female characters in selected Hindi films directed by female and male directors, with a particular focus on the storytelling art within the context of the feminist perspective. The films chosen for analysis are “Lipstick under my Burkha”, “A death in the gunj” and “Dhobi Ghat” by female directors and “Pink”, “Queen” and “Padman” by male directors.
This research explores the aspirations, characterizations and roles of male and female characters in the aforesaid films from both male and female perspectives through a rigorous qualitative content analysis. Additionally, the study seeks to investigate the presence of any stereotypes associated with the characters and the degree of its representation.
By analyzing the films’ narratives, character development and the interplay between male and female characters, this research further aims to shed light on the portrayal of gender dynamics in storytelling and its potential influence on the way gender is being portrayed. The findings of this study are not significant for cinephiles alone. Gender psychology aspirants would also find something thought-provoking to ponder upon.
Keywords: Cinema and gender portrayal, OTT and Cinema, Storytelling and OTT, Feministic Perspective, Gender Dynamics in cinema
Vishal Sahai, Research Scholar, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University & Assistant Professor DME Noida
Dr Gunjan Sharma, Associate Professor, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University
Dr Manmeet Kaur, Associate Professor, IILM University, Greater Noida
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