The Intersection of Womanhood and Disability: A Feminist Perspective on Malayalam Cinema

Abstract

The cinema is considered an instrument that can reflect the problems in society and comment on prevailing social attitudes. The Malayalam film industry is always ahead in including marginalised people in its cultural narrative, which shapes prevailing social attitudes. It is possible to conduct a critical analysis of bodies that do not meet normal standards through the intersection of feminist and disability theories. This research assumes that people with disabilities, particularly women in the Malayalam film industry, are marginalised socially and sexually. The study looks at how disabled women are depicted. Disability often appears through a pitiable character to evoke comedy, tragedy, or sympathy, which typically represents disability as a burden of misfortune. This research also shows that women with disabilities suffer from double marginalisation. Disability stories by men can, in some cases, demonstrate complexity and empowerment. However, when it comes to women with disabilities, the tendency is to place them in stereotypes. Such a portrayal becomes a part of the societal myth regarding gender and disability. In contrast to other disability movements with greater visibility, there have been no developments in Malayalam cinema. This is because such forms of art tend to support those cultural stereotypes that do not take into consideration the lives of disabled women. The purpose of the following research paper is to explore issues of gender and disability with a focus on the distinctive nature of Malayalam cinema.