Mira Nair
You would be hard-pressed not to find a panel discussion on the topic of ‘Women In Film’ at most leading global film festivals at present, given it’s an issue that has come into increasing focus in recent years. In the Hindi film industry particularly, matters of the portrayal of women and the disparate treatment of actresses have similarly become popular talking points. In its on-screen portrayal of women, Hindi cinema’s approach has historically been quite dire, with women traditionally being depicted as subservient and submissive, with their entire role predominantly being about the male lead.
Let’s play a game. Let’s guess how many reviewers will use the word ‘inspirational’ when describing Queen of Katwe. The first trailer avoids the word, but it’s putting it right on the tip of your tongue with the swelling music and the numerous snippets of pep talks.