A survey, recently conducted in America, has revealed that the importance of female characters in a movie is much lower than male characters’. The survey, based on more than 1,000 screenplays, also revealed that even if the female characters are completely removed, the main story of a film would remain the same. While the male characters often talk about their achievements in a movie, female characters concentrate mainly on social (family) values. According to the survey, male characters and dialogues still dominate the global film industry.

It is evident in the survey that female characters are commonly used to support the male characters, and not as individual characters. Currently, many Hollywood actresses talk about the huge difference between remunerations of male and female artists. In such a situation, the survey may encourage actresses to fight for their rights.
In a male-dominated society, it is quite natural that the film industry will not be an exception especially when film is one of the main elements in determining modern human motives. And no one can deny the fact that the industry is still very much dominated by males. The number of women directors or screenwriters is negligible. Films, which portray the victory of a male character in adverse situation, are being made for ages. In those films, women play ‘supporting’ roles only.

Recently, some directors have started making women-centric films. But, those are exception. For directors, producers and other members of the industry, the only important thing is to ensure the commercial success of a film. So, they don’t bother about moral rectitude.
According to the survey, a number of women take part in discussions on screenplays. Insiders believe that (perhaps) the best way to associate women in a film is to include them in the process of story writing and preparing the screenplay.

The scenario is same here in India. Women directors and script-writers are hugely under-represented in the Indian film industry. In Indian films, female characters are mere romance puppies. The conventional method of winning their heart is to irritate them continuously. In Indian movies, the heroine’s main task is to sing, dance and promote values of the conservative society.
Unfortunately, there is no immediate possibility of changing the scenario (not only in India, but also in Hollywood) as the pattern continues.

Boundless Ocean of Politics on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boundlessoceanofpolitics/

Boundless Ocean of Politics on Google Plus:
https://plus.google.com/+KoushikDasboundless

Boundless Ocean of Politics on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/kousdas?s=09

Contact us: kousdas@gmail.com

Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das