Disability and Hindi Cinema: Countering Detrimental Portrayals of Disabled Women within Media

Movies serve as a reflective medium that portrays occurrences within society. The technology facilitates the integration of the physical and digital realms, enabling the discernment between reality and fictional constructs. The diverse characters portrayed in films serve a purpose beyond mere entertainment and information dissemination. Additionally, they transport audiences to an alternative temporal and spatial setting. When a film effectively captivates its audience, it compels them to actively engage in critical analysis, develop personal viewpoints, navigate their emotional responses, motivate them towards societal involvement, and ultimately contribute to constructive transformations in the global context. Upon viewing films produced in India, it is imperative that matters, challenges, and perspectives pertaining to people with disabilities undergo a shift in prominence, transitioning from the periphery to the focal point. This article examines the inclusion of significant female characters with disabilities in a number of Hindi films spanning multiple decades, offering a comprehensive analysis of their thematic content. There has been a notable transformation in the portrayal of women with disabilities within the realm of Bollywood. The objective is to present an authentic portrayal of women with disabilities, aiming to avoid a superficial or symbolic portrayal of their lived experiences. Disabled women in Hindi cinema have undergone a transformation wherein they are portrayed not as mere recipients of excessive sympathy but rather as individuals who are the focus of comprehensive analyses. Filmmakers provide individuals with disabilities an opportunity to articulate their perspectives and personal encounters by incorporating them into their artistic endeavours. The primary objective of this article is to rectify the unrealistic expectations held by the general public by debunking prevalent myths and exaggerations surrounding disabled women in Hindi cinema. The objective of this article is to undertake a comprehensive examination of three Hindi films, specifically Margarita with a Straw (2015), Hichki (2018), and Blind (2023), that revolve around the experiences of women with disabilities.