WHEN Rani Bharti (Huma Qureshi), the protagonist of the web series Maharani (2021), finds out that she’s become the Chief Minister of Bihar, she’s so confused, so overwhelmed, that she almost breaks into tears. About to serve tea to her husband—the ex-chief minister, surviving an assassination attempt, too frail to function—Rani, an unlettered homemaker, has become a reluctant leader. In the next scene, the Governor, while talking to his wife, calls her a ‘‘rubber stamp—a goongi gudiya’’.
This reference to Indira Gandhi, who was given the pejorative epithet by the opposition, frames a woman as a puppet in politics, a male-dominated arena. Responding to women politicians’ miniscule presence, Bollywood remained indifferent to them for decades. But as they increased in number, so did their on-screen portrayals. Over the last few years, though, they’ve exploded in Hindi films and web series, compelling us to consider the interpretations of female political power in Hindi dramas.
This story is from the October 11, 2023 edition of Outlook.
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This story is from the October 11, 2023 edition of Outlook.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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A TRANSFORMATIVE JOURNEY
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WON, BATTLES WARS YET TO BE FOUGHT
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EQUITY NEEDED TO HARNESS YOUTH DIVIDEND
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"WE HAVE REACHED A POINT WHERE WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO FUTURE GENERATIONS"
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AWARENESS KEY TO RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT
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PROTECT YOUTH FROM CYBERSEX CRIMES
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"TBBT HAS PUT YOUTH AT THE CENTRE OF THE DISCOURSE 99
Mohammed Asif is Executive Director and Dr Komal Goswami is Chief of Party at Plan International (India Chapter). While Asif leads the organisation’s initiatives in welfare and development for children and equality for girls and women in India, Goswami leads the purposedriven initiatives of Reckitt executed through PLAN India. In an interview with Naina Gautam, they talk about The Birds and Bees Talk (TBBT) initiative, the opportunities, the achievements and the challenges so far. Excerpts:
A RIGHT IN THE MAKING
Though the Supreme Court disappointed the LGBTQIA+ community on the issue of civil union, it hopes that the recent announcements by the Indian National Congress, CPI(M) and BJP will pave the way for a legislative solution to its rights
