SHABANA AZMI
Actress, Social Activist, Mumbai
Shabana Azmi is an acclaimed veteran artist of Indian cinema, television and theatre. An alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune, she is iconic of parallel Indian cinema and is known for her performances in a variety of genres. Besides mainstream and independent cinema, she has also performed in several international projects. She is also a committed social and women’s rights activist supporting social equality and justice, child welfare and HIV/AIDS awareness. She is a President nominated member of the Rajya Sabha and a Goodwill Ambassador of the UN Population Fund. She has several accolades to her credit, including a record of five National Film Awards for Best Actress, five Filmfare Awards and several international honors. She was honored among ‘women in cinema’ at the 30th International Film Festival of India. In 1988, the Government of India awarded her with Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour of the country.
SESSION 2E: Public Lecture
Ram Ramaswamy, JNU, New Delhi
The changing face of women in Hindi cinema
Hindi Cinema has largely portrayed women in stereotypes – the sacrificing mother, the dutiful wife, the devoted sister... There was a clear divide between the heroine and the vamp. Over the years the two identities started blurring but the emergent character was a cardboard avenging angel with none of the complexities of a woman’s various identities. It is only in the last decade that there is a shift in the way women are being portrayed in Hindi cinema – more full-blooded, less stereotyped, but still a long way to go…