Session Name: Media, Culture, and Gender Representation
Screen Dance in Pan Indian Cinemas: Body and Sexuality
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
14:00 – 15:45 (GMT+7)
Paper Abstract: The concept of populism in Malayalam cinema has undergone a transformation over time, centering on dance and music, often accompanied by explicit portrayals of the human body and sexuality. The depiction of women's bodies and their sensuality has come to define screen dance, emerging as a highly effective element in mass-oriented films for achieving box office success. These shifts in cinematic representation mirror the evolving social and cultural milieu, as well as changing audience preferences and sensibilities. In the realm of Indian narrative cinema, songs have played a pivotal role historically, often accompanied by classical dance performances that added to the charm of the heroine. However, over the years, these dance forms have taken on a more prominent role, with a particular emphasis on showcasing the female form. Notably, cabaret performances have become integral to detective-themed Malayalam films, serving as a means to introduce the antagonist's domain, exhibit their power, or illustrate illicit activities like smuggling. Furthermore, these dances are frequently used to draw distinctions between virtuous and morally ambiguous female characters, solidifying the cabaret genre's status as a popular and enduring cinematic style. The paper would chronologically map the changes in the representation of the same with a focus on the contemporary pan Indian cinemas.
Presenter(s)
SA
Sreedevi P Aravind
Thunchathu Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, India
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