Neeraj Bunkar & Ratnapriya Singh Bollywood has long projected itself as a space that embraces modernity. Over the years, Hindi cinema has increasingly shown women drinking alcohol, living independently, pursuing careers, entering live-in relationships, and openly discussing intimacy. Yet, beneath these seemingly progressive images, many films continue to uphold deeply conservative ideas about gender. Women …
Dr Rinzing Ongmu Sherpa Laryoo abo laryo laryo (she will fall, she will now fall). Audience at the Inox West Point Mall, 4th June 2026 The Security Guard: Baini, what kind of work do you have outside at this hour of the night? Where are you coming from? Incident April 2025, Sikkim The 21st Century …
Sangeeta Kumari Nag Inter-caste love in Indian society has always been a source of discomfort and resistance. It is never merely personal, but it is social, political, and deeply unequal. Such love challenges the very foundation of the caste system and asserts the demand for equality. Dhadak-2 portrays this inter-caste love story with great intensity. …
Neeraj Bunkar Phule—a film directed by Ananth Mahadevan faced significant opposition from Brahmanical ideologues. The film chronicles the revolutionary lives of Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule, whose fight against caste oppression and gender inequality remains strikingly relevant. A Historical Canvas with Contemporary Resonance The film opens in 1897, Poona, during the bubonic plague, with an elderly …
Sree Govind Bharatvaraj In the recent past, the popular filmmaker Ranjith has been overtly criticized as an anti-Periyarist and a Hindutva supporter by Dravidian intellectuals and Periyarists. Starting from senior intellectuals like Suba Veerapandian to young Periyarists, this criticism is framed around Ranjith. But how far this argument is true is a serious one that …
Chanchal Kumar Origin the film released in India some time back. After watching the much anticipated movie (twice) here are some of my haphazard jottings and observations. Introduction To begin with, I’m sure Origin will renew discussions amongst movie-goers and audiences around the theme of caste and how it connects the dots of oppression around …
Dr. Abhijit Khandkar I saw the movie Chamkila. A few thoughts that have been on my mind since. First of all, it’s a good thing that the makers chose to tackle such an intriguing yet difficult character and subject, set in a place as complicated as Punjab with all its complex socio-political history and landscape. …
Hritika Mohite Natchathiram Nagargiradhu is a 2022 Tamil movie directed by Pa. Ranjith. The movie encompasses the themes of caste, gender and sexuality and blends into the larger theme of ‘Love’. It is set in Pondicherry, when a motley theatre group comes together to put forth their views on love while discussing the subject of …
Dr. Abhijit Shahaji Khandkar Both the Oscar wins for India have indigenous tribes at their heart. A lot has been written about the insensitive treatment and portrayal of the Gond tribes in RRR. That’s no surprise coming from Rajamouli who is openly casteist and wears his Hindutva on his sleeves. The tribal characters, right from …