Malavika Mohanan Advocates for Greater Female Representation in Indian Cinema

Malavika Mohanan Calls for More Women Behind the Camera

Malavika Mohanan, known for her collaborations with prominent actors like Thalapathy Vijay, Rajinikanth, and Mohanlal, has expressed her wish for enhanced female representation in the Indian film industry, particularly in creative roles. She argues that the push for meaningful change regarding women's roles on screen cannot solely rely on actresses. In a recent interview, she highlighted the industry's shortage of women in creative positions, her aspiration to break free from clichéd roles, and her ambition to star in an action film reminiscent of Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill.' Additionally, she commended the film 'Laapataa Ladies' for its authentic portrayal of women from a female perspective.

Malavika Mohanan Emphasizes the Need for Female Filmmakers

In her conversation with Variety India, Mohanan pointed out that the primary obstacle to improved representation of women in Indian cinema is the scarcity of female writers and directors. She emphasized that actresses alone cannot instigate significant change unless more women are involved in crafting narratives behind the scenes. She noted that the industry has a limited number of female filmmakers, which restricts the variety of stories and characters available to women on screen. 'The larger reality is that we don't really have a lot of female directors and writers. Female directors are far and few, just a handful,' she remarked.

Mohanan elaborated that increasing the presence of women behind the camera would naturally lead to more complex female characters and could even pave the way for genres that have historically overlooked women. 'We need a lot more of the female gaze. The moment we have more female makers, I am sure some of them would write cool action roles as well. And then we can have an Indian 'Kill Bill',' she added. Previously, Malavika has expressed her desire to move away from stereotypical 'flowerpot' roles and pursue characters that are more substantial and physically challenging.

Malavika Mohanan's Thoughts on Laapataa Ladies

When discussing films that effectively showcase stories from a woman's viewpoint, Malavika highlighted Kiran Rao's 'Laapataa Ladies.' She praised the film for its well-written female characters and credited its female perspective for making the characters feel genuine. 'It was just nice to see these lovely female characters directed by a woman through the female gaze,' she stated. Recently, Malavika made a special cameo in 'Idhayam Murali,' which premiered on July 10. Directed, co-written, and produced by Aakash Baskaran under the Dawn Pictures banner, the film features Atharvaa in the lead role alongside Preity Mukhundhan and Kayadu Lohar. She is set to appear next to Karthi in 'Sardar 2' and Vijay Sethupathi in 'Pocket Novel.'