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South Cinema's 'Patriarchal Gaze' vs. Bollywood Freedom
25 Jul
Summary
- Bollywood allows actors to choose commercial or performance roles.
- South cinema expects female stars to excel in both roles.
- Bhatia describes South industry's perspective on women as restrictive.
Tamannaah Bhatia, a seasoned actress with over two decades in both Bollywood and South Indian cinema, has shared her insights on the differing expectations within these industries. She explained that Bollywood offers actors the latitude to pursue either commercial ventures or performance-oriented roles, with the added advantage that those excelling in both inevitably achieve superstar status.
In contrast, Bhatia perceives the South film industry's perspective on women as more restrictive and patriarchal. She noted that commercial South cinema often necessitates female stars to demonstrate proficiency in both acting and glamorous presentations to ensure commercial success and industry longevity.
Bhatia also prefers the term "party songs" over "item songs" for dance numbers, highlighting their enduring popularity, sometimes even surpassing that of the films they feature in. She cited examples like "Chammak Challo" and "Sheila Ki Jawani" as culturally significant tracks.
Looking ahead, Bhatia is slated to appear in Vvan with Sidharth Malhotra, scheduled for a 2026 release, and will headline Ragini 3.
