25. Rohith LS & Megha Patil

Abstract 25. Rohith LS & Megha Patil

Dissent of Widowhood:
A Study of Bollywood and Sandalwood films

Abstract

This paper looks into films as an important form of cultural production. India is the world’s largest film producing nation with 900 films being produced every year. People enjoy watching films, either in the cinema hall or on a television as a source of entertainment. But cinema is no more a mere source of entertainment. It has become a field in popular culture where dominant ideologies are circulated, stereotypes are framed and various discourses are projected and it is one of the forms of cultural production. As we know patriarchal hegemonical domination has rooted itself in this land as well as in the minds of the people. This conditioned mindset consists of rules and practice of hegemonical domination. The position of widows in the sub continent is painful and they are living as unwanted creatures in India. Widows are seen as evil women and considered as public property. Widows are completely dehumanized in Indian patriarchal society. In spite of various social movements which have taken place regarding sati system and widow re-marriage, the confined Indian religious mindset remains. In this paper, an attempt is being been made to look into the characters of widow who attempt to break barriers of social system. The paper also tries to look at how films create a dissent in the projection of widowhood and its reception in selected films of Bollywood and Sandalwood films.