De-stereotyping the Man-Woman Relationship in the Indian Hindi Film ‘Piku’

Authors: Neha Tiwari

Country: India

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Abstract: Cinema is one of the strongest mediums of Mass Communication which has the ability to influence the otherwise rigid Indian mind-set. The close study of a century years’ journey of India Hindi Cinema is the best way to understand the transition in Indian society in general and family in particular.

Shoojit Sircar directed film Piku (2015) is a milestone cinema in a way that it challenges the notion of patriarchy in a novel and subtle way. It redefines the relationship between man and woman. The relationship between man and woman presented in the film is so democratic and liberal that it breaks all stereotypes existing in the current Indian society and, interestingly, it does it so silently that even the chauvinistic section doesn’t realize and reciprocate. It also shows how women should now be accepted as an individual. It also clearly depicts that the gender-fix roles are now being challenged. The institution of marriage is being questioned for its relevance in women's life. The portrayal of a daughter taking care of her old-cynical father in the film interrogates the rotten patriarchal ideas.

The subtle mannerism of presentation of story adopted by the director Shoojit Sircar is praiseworthy but the credit must equally be given to the writer Juhi Chaturvedi. No loud words, no trauma, no crime, no revenge story, no morality packed preaching but even more than voicing exactly what the 21st century Indian women would like to listen. The mannerism, body language, action and reaction of the characters have done a great job for the director. The strength of cinema as a visual medium has been fully exploited by the director. This paper investigates the film for the challenges it presents against patriarchy and the de-stereotyping of the men-women relationship. It presents the women as a human being, as shown in Piku, free from all gender biased bondages. It takes forward the three stages (Showalter) – Faminine, Faminist, and female -to little further where women will be treated as an individual, as person.

Keywords: Patriarchy, Stereotypes, Feminist, Man-Women Relationship, Indian Hindi Cinema, Family Dynamics

Paper Id: 1644

Published On: 2018-08-10

Published In: Volume 6, Issue 4, July-August 2018

Cite This: De-stereotyping the Man-Woman Relationship in the Indian Hindi Film ‘Piku’ - Neha Tiwari - IJIRMPS Volume 6, Issue 4, July-August 2018.

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