From Geet To Naina, Redditors Speak About Bollywood’s Unrealistic Portrayal Of Women In Films
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As we celebrate Women’s Day, it’s time to take a deep dive into Bollywood’s portrayal of women on the silver screen. While Bollywood has made significant strides in representing women more authentically, there’s one trope that seems to persist like an unwelcome guest at a party: the desi manic pixie dream girl. It’s not about the movies but it’s about the portrayal of women, in fact, the weak portrayal of women characters here!
Bollywood’s way of showing women as bubbly and quirky and “not like other girls”
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Reddit, the virtual watering hole of opinions and insights, recently lit up with discussions on Bollywood’s obsession with crafting these cookie-cutter characters. Users shared their frustrations with the industry’s tendency to pigeonhole female leads into this one-dimensional archetype, perpetuating outdated stereotypes and limiting the portrayal of women on screen.
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What exactly is this trope, you ask? Well, imagine a character who’s bubbly, quirky, and just so happens to be “not like other girls”. She’s the girl who defies traditional norms, marches to the beat of her own drum, and is effortlessly cool in every way possible. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Now for all the women out there who have been trying to reach the level of these quirky girlies, let me tell you it’s fiction ladies!
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Also Read: From NH10 To Bulbbul, 5 Bollywood Films That Take You Into The World Of Suppressed Female Rage
Here’s the thing, it’s not like we don’t like these characters, we love the actors playing the parts and the characters in the story. But if you ask about the individuality of the characters? not so much. The issue here is writing these women as quirky, funny, bubbly women who would be liked by each and every man around them when in reality women are much more complex than that. Women are flawed and they learn through their flaws, they make bad decisions and they stick to them.
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One Redditor pointed out the irony in director Imtiaz Ali’s films, where women often serve as mere catalysts for the male protagonist’s journey of self-discovery. Instead of fleshed-out characters with their own narratives, they’re reduced to caricatures whose sole purpose is to prop up the leading man.
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And let’s not forget the cringe-worthy moments sprinkled throughout some of our favourite films. Remember that scene in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani where Ranbir Kapoor’s character declares Deepika Padukone as “marriage material” while dismissing other women as mere flings? Yeah, it’s not exactly the empowering moment we were hoping for.
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Also Read: It’s Oscars Weekend! Here’s A List Of Films To Watch And Cheer For All The Incredible Women Nominated!
But fear not, for amidst the sea of manic pixie dream girls, there are glimmers of hope in the form of well-written, nuanced characters. Films like Piku and Raazi have shown us that it’s possible to portray women as vulnerable, flawed, and proudly feminine without resorting to tired clichés.
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And let’s not forget the real-life women who defy stereotypes every day. From the girl next door who dreams of owning her own business to the party-goer with a deep love for her family, women come in all shapes, sizes, and shades of complexity. It’s high time Bollywood took note and gave us the diverse representation we deserve.
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So, as we celebrate Women’s Day, let’s raise a toast to the women who refuse to be boxed in by society’s expectations. Let’s demand better from the entertainment industry and celebrate the rich tapestry of female experiences both on and off the screen. Because after all, who wants to be just another quirky, bubbly girl when you can be and are capable of being so much more?
First Published: March 08, 2024 4:13 PM
