PORTRAYAL OF FEMALE LEAD CHARACTERS IN RECENTLY RELEASED TAMIL CINEMA DIRECTED BY WOMEN DIRECTORS

The main aim of this research paper is to critically analyse the recently released and Tamil
cinema directed by women directors. Tamil cinema industry is dominated by men directors.
Recently, it has undergone a shift. Women film directors like, Sudha Kongara, Halitha Shameem,
and Leena Manimekalai of Tamil cinema industry emerged from this male dominated film
industry. Their film contributions should be studied and analysed in order to welcome their
initiatives. Tamil cinema very often portrayed women lead characters as a passive figures. Male
centric storyline, male gaze, objectification are very common in Tamil cinema industry. The
emergence of women film makers tried realism, and women centric lead characters in their films.
Films such as, Soorarai Pottru, Irudhi Suttru and Sillu Karuppatti directed by women directors
strongly supported the ideas such as women’s independence and emotional strength. It challenged
the patriarchy marriage system. It supported their courage, career, and personal life goals. The
themes such as sports, independency, entrepreneurship, and resistant to stereotypes of women
characters in Tamil cinema. This research study examined how these women directors portray
female lead characters in their films. The supportive feminist theory also discussed in this research.
Qualitative content analysis methodology was adopted in this research. The findings of the
research clearly showed the gradual shifts from stereotypical portrayal to authentic and empowered
female lead characters in recently released Tamil cinema