Female Gaze In Bollywood – 4 Visionary Creators Shaping The Narrative

Bollywood in the past has predominantly featured stories where more importance is given to  the male protagonists. But now more than ever, the change is palpable due to the growing number of female directors in Bollywood. Actresses are no longer the supporting characters in men’s world, but they also have their own stories to tell; This is connected to the feminist theory known as the “feminine gaze,” which refers to the autonomy of a female character in her story.

It showcases the perspective of a female director with its realistic setting and uplifting characters. Some of the greatest female-driven movies in Hollywood have been directed by women like Greta Gerwig and Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Examples of these films are Little Women, Ladybird, Lost in Translation and more recently Barbie.

Meghna Gulzar

What comes to your mind as you think of a spy?  A man with a great build and combat strength. Now think of the total opposite—that is how Meghna Gulzar created Sehmat (Alia Bhatt) in the 2018 movie Raazi. The film follows the journey of an innocent Kashmiri student deployed on a covert mission to Pakistan while attending Delhi University. There aren’t any action scenes in the movie that will stick in your eyes. Instead, Sehmat exudes beauty and innocence while using her cunning to extract information. Meghna defied a number of preconceptions associated with the conventional spy in this movie and created one of Bollywood’s most iconic spy characters.

Gauri Shinde

When Gauri Shinde directed English Vinglish in 2012, she captured the attention of the country by portraying the endearing tale of a middle-class housewife who is treated disrespectfully in the home. Every Indian mother who is teased for her bad English or restricted to chores can relate to Sashi’s (Sridevi) hardships. Sashi encourages you to push yourself beyond your comfort zone, take on obstacles, and see the bright side of things.

When Gauri created Dear Zindagi, mental illness was frowned upon in India. In the 2016 movie, Alia Bhatt’s character Kaira dealt with heartache, familial trauma, and the difficulties that come with growing up. A psychologist named Dr. Jug (played by Shah Rukh Khan) is the perfect example of a men written by woman. He is emotionally expressive and mature.

Anvita Dutt

Anvita Dutta places  in awkward situation which  forces them to reveal a different side of them on television. The 2020 film Bulbbul, starring Tripti Dimri, isviogood example of a woman who discovers her darker side and exacts retribution on those who violated and ultimately killed her. The movie shows “Shakti,” the sinister and darker side of a woman who returns to torment those who wronged her. This classic film offers an unusual perspective from a female point of view that you may not have seen before and is certain to send shiver down your spine.

Another inspirational character created by Anvita is Qala (Tripti Dimri) from the 2022 film Qala. Qala engages in improper behavior in an attempt to win her mother’s love while seeking approval from her mother. Later on, her ambition damages her mentally to the point where she ends her own life. Anvita addresses childhood and family trauma through Qala, which has a long-lasting effect on a person’s life. Her narratives frequently jump back and forth in time to explore a character’s background in order to gain insight into their psychology and outlook from that of a child.

Zoya Akhtar

Even though Zoya Akhtar receives backlash for her films’ portrayals of the upper class perspective, she does a good job on screen representing her characters’s spirit.  In the 2015 film Dil Dhadakne Do, Priyanka Chopra Jonas plays the upper-class, talented Ayesha, who was forced into marriage against her will and is obligated to conform to patriarchal social norms. She still fights  for her independence and hopes for her family’s support.

However, Laila (Katrina Kaif) from Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (2011) is a carefree, laid-back girl who longs for daily surprises from life. The women in question are driven to achieve their goals and possess a unique perspective. Also, the male characters in these films do not vilify a woman’s body. Instead, they act as a source of support for their female counterparts and exhibit emotional intelligence, which was absent from earlier male roles in Bollywood.

These are just some of the producers that have had a big influence and started the conversation about female perspectives; there are certainly many more whose piece of work has changed the way that women are seen in Bollywood. The female gaze and a female’s point of view are critical for showing a female point of view on screen and promoting representation in a male-dominated industry.