This presentation is made on Gender representation in Indian short films. For this purpose , Five short films were selected.

1. Gender Representation in Indian
Short Films
Presented by: Zaib-un-Nisa
Hafsa Murtaza
Rajia Munir

2. 1: “That Day After Everyday”
2: “Juice”
3: “Unfair”
4: “Listen To Her”
5: “MenToo"
Short Films List

3. Short Films
Title: “That Day After Everyday”
Director: Anurag Kyshyap
Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQR6cB1DXzY

4. Synopsis
The short film “That Day After Everyday” takes
on the issue of sexual harassment. This is the
story of three working women with regressive
household harassed by man on everywhere
whether walking in streets, traveling in bus or by
office colleagues. The message of the film is to
encourage women to fight back and learn
Martial Arts for self defense and stop living in
fear for ‘strength lies not in the body but in
mind’.

5. Gender Representation
Male:
Regressive
Insensitive
Harassers

6. Female:
Emotional
Fearful in first half
Decisive
Strong
Fighter
Defensive

7. Short Film
Title: “Juice”
Director: Neeraj Ghaywan
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Sk7fQGIjE

8. Synopsis
The Short Film “Juice” is the story about a middle class
household and highlights one very significantly
internalized topic in our lives which is “gender roles”.
Juice shows a stark difference in the two areas in the
same house. Hot vs. cool, comfort vs. discomfort, party
vs. duty and relaxed vs. chaotic. The only common factor
linking them being internalized patriarchy.
The short film tries to highlight the gender roles and
gender stereotypes that exist within our households and
how the road to changing it does not need to be filled
with loud protest but simple silences as hard and piercing
as shown in the final scene.

9. Gender Representation:
Male:
Insensitive
Misogynistic
Authoritative

10. Female:
Housewife
Caretaker
Domestic Chores

11. Short Film
Title: Unfair
Director: Devansh Katoch
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk5GC5C9-
sA

12. Synopsis
The short film “Unfair” is about a girl Ayesha with dark complexion.
The whole story is revolving around her. She is presented in the film as
an example of Stereotyping based upon color of skin.
The title UNFAIR is the word which itself is telling the whole story.
From the word unfair we generally mean; not fair, not confirming to
approved standards as of justice honesty or ethics. In this story the
word UNFAIR refers to the unfair complexion of the woman and also to
the unfair treatments of the people of society towards her for which
she has been suffering since her childhood.
This is a typical sub-continent stereotype; to judge a person on the
bases of his/her complexion because they consider the fair skin as a
sign of beauty regardless of how intelligent and skilled they are

13. Gender Representation:
Male:
Supportive (parent)
Typical (guest character)

14. Female:
Strong
Independent
Smart
Confident
Outspoken
passionate

15. Short Film
Title: “Listen to Her”
Director: Nandita das
Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scwYray2Dsk

16. Synopsis
The Short film “listen to her” is spontaneous response to
the irony of “stay home, stay safe” for millions of women
around the world in the light of pandemic. This is the
story of women who receives a call in which another
women pleading for help.
The film is an affecting portrait of domestic violence and
a commentary on the recent spike during lockdown. it is
also an urgent take on the indiscriminate nature of such
violence on women, irrespective of their position on the
spectrum of privilege. An urban working woman who
does not remain untouched by the shards of domestic
abuse. It’s the nature that differs.

17. Gender Representation:
Male:
(In Urban Household)
Stereotypical
Other (on phone)
Violent
Abusive
Insensitive
Aggressive

18. Female:
(In urban Household)
Independent
Professional yet homely
Caretaker
Domestic chores
Outspoken
helpful

19. Short Film
Title: “Men too”
Director: Parag Sharma
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTduQB-
GGjY

20. Synopsis
The Short Film “ Men Too” is story of a girl wants to
wrongly accused a director of her sexual
harassment but later change her decision because
one false accusation can destroy someone's life.
It reflects the light on me too movement that helps
women to raise their voice against harassment. But
there are many examples in which women wrongly
accused men in Me Too Movement and dilute the
authenticity of a genuine cause.

21. Gender Representation:
In this short film, gender is not shown as
stereotyped rather the roles are reversed where
man is shown as positive character and women
is negative.

22. Male:
Positive
Victim
Female:
Negative turned positive

23. These 5 short Indian films represent both
genders very specifically in different situations
and how society stereotyped them with their
roles as man and woman. But there is message
in every short film that in society, roles and
duties are not specified with any gender.
Conclusion