From Kahaani to Raazi: The Evolution of Women in Bollywood
Bollywood was pretending to reflect social values and norms. For a very long time, women were stereotyped as queens-fulfilling-mother-of-society roles, but that has now changed. Over many years, an evolution has taken place regarding what is permissible on screen relating to women’s nature.
From these stereotypes, women were pushing their way to the front with leading roles in Kahaani and Raazi, two films reflecting a transformation in the portrayal of women in Hindi cinema.
Changes in Storyline
Traditionally, Love Interest, Mother, or Supporting role for women were stamped out. But the current wave of filmmaking challenges that trend by once again giving women theirs to tell-the story of her own realities, ambitions, and tribulations. Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani is about Vidya Balan, as Vidya Bagchi, a pregnant woman searching for her missing husband in Kolkata.
The movie not only depicts the flexibility and intelligence of the character but also, with grace and holding her own in a male-dominated world, challenges the meanings such strength can carry.
The case of “Raazi”, directed by Meghna Gulzar, discusses a young Indian spy married into a Pakistani family during the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971. Accordingly, Sehmat is portrayed as a will of bravery and sacrifice, showing how women can actually be at the forefront of important narratives, often making life-altering decisions for the greater good.
Complex Characters and Well-Realized Representation
Both Kahaani and Raazi portray women as profound, complex characters that possess agency. Vidya Bagchi is not a victim; she is competent, determined, and makes full use of her intelligence to prove her point; in the same way, the angst of Sehmat is given strength by her willpower as she comes to grips with her identity and the moral dilemmas of espionage.
In stark contrast to their reputation of being more of sidekicks in the stories, they have taken center stage in thrilling narratives larded with extreme stakes.
Analytical Dissection
Success of films such as Kahaani and Raazi paved the way for increased production of women-oriented stories in Bollywood. These stories veer away from the traditional molds whereby women are defined in relation to men, and show these females as a person competent with their own goals and aspirations.
This change assumes great significance in a gender-imbued society, for it pushes the audience to ruminate on women’s constructs.
Impact of Women Filmmakers
Indeed, contributing to this change is the emergence of women filmmakers within the Bollywood scene. Directors such as Sujoy Ghosh and Meghna Gulzar infuse the narratives with unusual perspectives, often contributing authenticity and emotional depth. Their films prove that the stories centered around women can be made commercially viable and critically acclaimed.
Conclusion: From Kahaani to Raazi, Bollywood seems to have come a long way in portraying strong and independent women whose stories are dictated by themselves. These films not only entertain but more so empower a new generation to embrace their strength and agency.
As the industry progresses, it is crucial to uplift and champion stories that empower women so they can voice their stories. Bollywood has a bright future, one in which a lot more stories can break stereotypes and redefine how women are portrayed in cinema.
Add comment