Illustration of the Female Cast in Indian Web Series - with Special Reference to MAI and Dabba Cartel

Abstract

With the increased accessibility of smartphones and high-speed 4G and 5G internet networks in almost all places in India, the content consumption has seen massive progress, and so is the concept of binge-watching content at one’s suitable time and place, without any disturbance from frequent ads. This has led to increased demand for various content genres, with the audience producing and consuming content alike. A significant change is observed in the depiction of female actresses, with strong, progressive, and intricate storylines that have received critical acclaim from women audiences and are acting as a counterincentive to leave a positive impact on society in general. This study has opted for a qualitative discourse analysis of the two Netflix series, and it has been found that, although Bollywood has done a commendable job of showcasing the nuances of each character, it has still failed to create something completely free of gender bias and stereotypes. With the expansion of digital spaces (the pandemic acting as a catalyst as the whole world came to a standstill), creative freedom was made available to women, thereby increasing the scope of experimentation with women's roles. This led to empowerment in the roles assigned to women. For this study, two web series have been selected for analysis of their female characters. While one has shown compelling, layered narratives, the other has depicted something called “controlled representation,” in which typical gender norms were needled between the agency and resilience of the female characters. There is not an iota of doubt that the women protagonists play strong, progressive roles. However, it is still in an evolving stage, as there is still a long way to go toward full inclusivity in women's representation, free of gender stereotypes.