Published Paper Details:

The landscape of Hindi cinema has undergone a marked transformation, with an increasing number of narratives foregrounding women as complex, self-directed protagonists. This study examines the evolution of female-centric storytelling in new-age Bollywood movies. While traditional narratives have long reinforced patriarchal norms, recent films indicate a growing willingness within the industry to question established hierarchies and portray women as independent, complex individuals. Female-centric narratives demonstrate a deliberate departure from earlier portrayals that confined women to domesticity, sacrifice, and moral rigidity. These films centre women's agency, aspirations, and emotional depth, signalling a broader transformation in cinematic storytelling. Simultaneously, films like Thappad and Piku foreground issues of consent, autonomy, and societal complicity in normalizing gender-based violence. By challenging long-held assumptions about marriage, respectability, and victim-blaming, such narratives foster critical public reflection on patriarchal structures.