Vigilantism and the pleasures of masquerade : the female spectators of vijayasanthi films
Document Type
Book chapter
Source Publication
City flicks : cinema, urban worlds and modernities in India and beyond
Publication Date
1-1-2002
First Page
185
Last Page
198
Publisher
International Development Studies, Roskilde University
Abstract
My interest in Vijayasanthi dates back to discussions over the last decade in women’s groups about film and media, to our embarrassment about weepy women, anger against the “degradation” of female bodies, and our discontent regarding female stereotypes. Our reaction was to seek positive images of women, to read for character and plot, which would “empower” women viewers. Our attention was drawn to the popularity of the Vijayasanthi figure, and we wondered if our applause for a woman beating up the villains would be wholly unqualified. We noticed that both feminist and non-feminist women spectators for different reasons felt some discomfort at watching Vijayasanthi, and were confused about the compulsion to celebrate vigilantism. My paper is an attempt at exploring the reasons for that discomfort (did it have to do with the replication of male violence, or with the fluidity of sexual identity in the films?). Are characters and plot the most interesting aspects of these films? Or would a focus on the problems of spectatorship yield a more nuanced reading of our admittedly ambivalent responses?
Print ISSN
09072829
Publisher Statement
Copyright © Roskilde University
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Additional Information
Roskilde Universitscenter. International Development Studies. Occasional Paper, 22
ISBN of the source publication: 9788773495469
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Niranjana, T. (2002). Vigilantism and the pleasures of masquerade: The female spectators of vijayasanthi films. In P. Kaarsholm (Ed.), City flicks: Cinema, urban worlds and modernities in India and beyond (pp. 185-198). Roskilde: International Development Studies, Roskilde University.