Women actors reduced to 'Props' of male leads: Movie critic Sandhya Rani at BIFFes

Women actors in recent years have become mere “props” of male actors rather than having substantial roles, said dialogue writer and movie critic Sandhya Rani at the 17th Bengaluru International Film Festival (BIFFes).

Speaking at a session titled “Rhythmical Strength of Existence” regarding the movie ‘Hemavathi,’ directed by the legendary S Siddalingaiah, Rani noted that while mainstream cinema struggles, digital shifts were promising. “The growth of OTT has helped bring in more women-centric stories, allowing actors like Shefali Shah to emerge as powerhouse performers,” she said.

Reflecting on the themes of ‘Hemavathi’ (1977), which follows a priest’s daughter abandoned by her husband and facing caste-based struggles, Rani remarked that the social prejudices portrayed in the film remain prevalent.

“The discrimination against women and lower castes exists in different formats today, but the struggle continues,” she added.

Rani also touched upon the domestic pressures faced by women. “Many suicides among married women could be prevented if parents chose to support their daughters instead of asking them to adjust,” she said.

The panel, which included Karnataka Lekhakiyara Sangha President R Sunandamma, journalist Raghunath C H and researcher Manasa Chandrika, analysed the legacy of veteran directors like Puttanna Kanagal.

While Kanagal was known for women-centric films with significant screen time, Rani argued they were not truly “pro-women.”

“At the end of those stories, the women always had to be saved by a man,” she observed.

Raghunath agreed and added that the portrayal of women in modern Kannada soap operas as sacrificial and dependent was a direct influence of directors like Kanagal.

Manasa Chandrika pointed out that these characters dominate television because a large section of the female audience prefers such stories, as do men who expect women to behave that way.

The panel also discussed the increasing difficulty of making socially conscious cinema today. Raghunath remarked that if a film like Hemavathi were made today, it would likely face hurdles. “In today’s political climate, Siddalingaiah would not be able to work again, and the movie would fail to release due to state censorship and politics,” he added.