Gouri Kishan: Women Lack Agency in Mollywood

Actor Gouri Kishan has pointed out that patriarchy continues to significantly shape women's agency in Malayalam cinema. Speaking at a roundtable event, Kishan acknowledged Kerala's progressive image but stressed that patriarchal attitudes remain deeply ingrained, affecting generations. She noted that this mindset is not confined to older generations, with some younger men in the industry exhibiting backward attitudes.

Kishan elaborated on the persistence of misogyny, where women's contributions are sometimes framed as favors rather than equal capabilities. She shared personal experiences of discrimination, describing feeling invisible in professional spaces and facing dismissive attitudes, even with her privileged background. This has led her to assert her voice more directly when encountering such behavior.

The actor also raised concerns about genuine female involvement behind the camera, questioning the extent to which women are consulted in filmmaking, even in women-centric projects. She highlighted the scarcity of women in technical roles and recounted an incident where an assistant camerawoman faced criticism for being assertive, underscoring the struggle for women in professional capacities.

Kishan called for men to actively participate in dismantling these attitudes, emphasizing that the burden should not fall solely on women. She clarified that the issue is not a gender battle but a fight for equal opportunity, where gender is not a prerequisite for limiting roles. Furthermore, she contrasted Malayalam cinema's portrayal of 'real' female characters with restrictive expectations found elsewhere, noting that women are often policed for perceived imperfections, a scrutiny men typically avoid.