New TISS, U.S. Consulate Report Reveals Need for More Equitable Gender Representation in Hindi Cinema

New TISS, U.S. Consulate Report Reveals Need for More Equitable Gender Representation in Hindi Cinema

 A new research report by the School of Media and Cultural Studies at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, reveals that on- and off-screen women and queer representation in box-office hits remains largely stereotypical. 

Noted actor Ms. Vidya Balan; actor, filmmaker and social advocate Ms.  Nandita Das; acclaimed film producer and two-time Academy Award Winner Ms Guneet Monga Kapoor; Nitin Tej Ahuja, CEO Producers Guild of India, B N Tewari, President, FWICE, WIMPTSEA released the report, “Lights, Camera, and Time for Action: Recasting a Gender Equality Compliant Bollywood,” at Estella, Juhu on the evening of June 28th, in the presence of Prof Shalini Bharat, Director, TISS; Consul General Mike Hankey, U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai; and Prof Lakshmi Lingam, Research Study Director.  The U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai, funded the project.

An engaging conversation moderated by film critic Sucharita Tyagi followed the report release.  Representatives of several film industry bodies, film professionals, and media and communication students attended the event. 

Research for the report, supported by a research grant from the U.S. Consulate General, Mumbai, consisted of both quantitative and qualitative studies. The quantitative research studies analysed 25 2019 box-office hits to capture a full year of pre-pandemic theatrical releases, as well as 10 ‘women-centric films released between 2012 and 2019 as a representative sample. Researchers analysed 15 crucial parameters, such as intersectional representation, occupation, degree of sexual stereotyping, consent and intimacy, harassment. The studies also analysed women’s participation behind-the-scenes and off screen. 

In addition to the quantitative studies, TISS carried out three qualitative studies with the experiences and perspectives of women and queer screenwriters, directors, and young online media critics. 

TISS earlier shared interim findings of the study at marquee film festivals like the International Film Festival of India, Goa; Pune International Film Festival; International Association of Women in Radio and Television Film Festival, New Delhi; and the India Film Project, Mumbai.