ABSTRACT
The stereotypical representation of Dalits as powerless victims, who need to be rescued by ‘benevolent’ upper castes, marks most of these films. This image, though not changed completely, yet underwent a phenomenal transformation with the advent of multiplexes, SVOD (Subscription Video on Demand) platforms, and a neoliberal economy. In contemporary India, the issue of caste has gained more traction, and its representations in various cultural forms have been anything but straightforward. However, it is argued that the Brahminical gaze is reflected through films that not merely denounce caste discrimination, but also foreground Dalit characters as ‘active’ agents. Using Laura Mulvey’s theory of gaze as an overarching framework, this chapter examines how Brahminical gaze operates in two popular Bollywood films, Aarakshan (Dir: Prakash Jha, 2011) and Article 15 (Dir: Anubhav Sinha, 2019). It appraises how Dalit agency is rendered invisible despite the films’ claim to make a nuanced critique of caste system. Finally, the chapter underscores the need for developing an oppositional gaze to dismantle the Brahminical hegemony.
