The commercial films produced in the third world countries have had a tendency to portray women in the stereotyped traditional roles of good wife, good mother and good daughter. As opposed to these ‘virtuous’ women, the stereotype of the ‘bad’ woman is offered, who is generally portrayed as westernized, liberated, scornful of tradition.
There have been very few films which have portrayed women as individual personalities different from the normal stereotypes of the society.
In Indian society the social evils like, rape, molestation and bride burning are increasing day by day. Films are portraying such evils to promote their business. Women are an essential component of Indian cinema but they are used as glamorous show pieces or in vulgar dresses and actions. Thus films have been greatly responsible for disturbing women’s image in society.
All conferences on women and media at national and international levels have condemned the cinema’s damaging role in women’s equality.
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Today’s films show women dancing for men either in cabret scenes or supposedly in rural setting. There is also a trend of growing violence towards women in commercial cinema.
While mainstream cinema continues to reiterate the glorious myth of the Sati Savitri in slacks, a silent wave of feminism is sweeping through the alternate cinema.
Women are walking out of the shadow of the second sex and standing up against anything that is in opposition to self- expression and self realization. Be it man, mores, morals or money.
Some of the films released recently portray women in entirely different roles breaking all the stereotypes.
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‘Sardari Begum’ showed woman using male chaperonage until it enables her to reach her goal and earn name and fame, after which she sheds off the ‘encumbrance’, ‘Astha’ had a novel theme, where a housewife, who opts for prostitution to supplement the income to help her family to follow the dictates of consumerism.
‘Fire’ shows woman savouring lesbian relationship. The film attacks on gender politics and the economics of institutionalized man-woman bonding.
Cinema has ample scope for taking up bold themes reflecting modern women’s values and attitudes. Such films with artistic and intelligent treatment can create impact on society.