Voices from the Margins: A Multidimensional Reading of Dalit Masculinities in Contemporary Telugu Cinema
Date and Time
Location
This event will be hosted on Zoom. Please register to receive event link. Event link will be sent to attendees 2 days before the event.
Details
Bhagya Shree Nadamala
Bhagya Shree NadamalaUGC-Senior Research Fellow (PhD), Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Patna
Wednesday, 11 June 2025 l 10.30-11.30a.m. ET l 8:00-9:00p.m. IST
This webinar explores the construction of masculinity and its interconnectedness with caste, with a particular focus on Dalit masculinity in contemporary Telugu cinematic narratives. Masculinity has been a pervasive yet implicit aspect of Telugu cinema, reflected in upper-caste identities, screen images, and song compositions that reinforce normative masculine ideals. However, since 2018, mainstream Telugu cinema has witnessed shifts, with Dalit identities gaining visibility. By analyzing Rangasthalam (2018) and Palasa 1978 (2020), this presentation examines Dalit men’s fluid positioning within gender and caste discourse. This research employs a multidimensional model to decode masculinities within hierarchical structures, power dynamics, and identity politics
Presented by: Canada India Research Centre for Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE)