Indian cinema has seen female characters take the lead in many forms. From the whimpering damsel in distress to women taking charge of her destiny, there has been an evolution of female characters that one cannot help but feel drawn to. The OTT space has helped in fueling this momentum. While family entertainment is a trend in the OTT space, streaming platforms like ZEE5 have created movies with more relatable characters and strong female leads. Let us explore how the dynamics of female characters have changed in films so far and how OTT players are playing a significant role in this transformation.
Layered Characters
It is a common notion that characters are supposed to be decipherable. But in reality, everyone has layers that require uncovering. Streaming platforms like ZEE5 have curated content that explores the complex emotions of varied characters and beautifully showcases their journey. Hindi films on ZEE5 like ‘Rashmi Rocket’ and the upcoming ‘Love Hostel’ show female characters who don’t fit into the typical female character role and raise above their situations to achieve their goals. Along with character transformations, these movies also explore complicated interpersonal relationships. Their journeys towards achieving their goals and dreams transform into empowering stories that inspire audiences and give them hope.
Unpacking Relatable Stories from All Regions of India
The boom of OTT spaces like ZEE5 and Netflix has now led to the portrayal of realism on screens. As opposed to the stereotypical depictions of women portrayed long ago in Hindi films, today’s cinema has changed drastically. Whether it is the character of Lallo in ‘Aafat-e-Ishq’, who albeit timid, had the resilience to pursue her quest for love or Aditi in ’14 Phere’, who had the spark to fight for her love, ZEE5 has redefined gender notion with compelling narratives.
It is the same in regional film industries. As OTT platforms see a surge in viewership from small cities, ZEE5 is ramping up its regional content libraries with original films. With regional cinema in the spotlight, content creators are experimenting with stories with an emotional connection, breaking free of the shackles. ZEE5 Originals like the Tamil-language movie ‘Blood Money’ and the Bengali film ‘The Lovely Mrs Mookherjee’ have different notions of women in our minds. These films tell the tale of ordinary women having the will and intelligence to save the day.
Inspirational Journeys that Educate Viewers
Art and cinema are significant mediums that help to inspire viewers to embrace a positive mindset. With the vision of showcasing extraordinary stories of ordinary people, ZEE5 has nailed the art of multi-lingual storytelling. The streaming platform is churning out films and web series, where women are more than just an accessory. They have voices, opinions, and emotions that educate and inspire viewers to take action. From action thrillers to sports dramas and family entertainers, ZEE5 has rejected the ideas of stereotypical gender depiction and moving towards refreshing narratives.
The movie-watching experience of viewers has changed in recent years. But one clear thing is that the character representation in cinema has transformed. With viewers from all regions of India demanding quality entertainment, filmmakers need to ditch the archaic notions that existed half a century ago. The creative freedom and the democratization of content offered by streaming platforms like ZEE5 has encouraged content creators to explore varied filmmaking methods and bring back the golden era of Indian cinema.
More Refreshing Narratives in the Future
By having a presence in over 190+ countries, ZEE5 has exposed quality content to a global audience. The unique content and concepts coming out of ZEE5 are finding an appeal globally, sparking purposeful conversations. With the vision of ‘Entertainment Inclusivity’, the streaming giant will continue to raise the bar and bring refreshing narratives featuring empowering characters in 2022.
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