Feminist Messages in Rituparno Ghosh’s Films ‘Chokherbali’ and ‘Baariwali’: A Critical Analysis of Female Desires

Films are the reflection of the socio-psychological phenomenon of our society. Cinema is an influential medium that resonates with the culture, attitude, human thought process, and temperament of people in our society, especially in the context of Women. Females are often projected in a very stereotypical way in films. Indian mainstream films hardly explore women's psyche. The female characters mostly dwell in a minor part around the lead male actors/protagonists. The social, cultural, and economic conditions of middle-class Bengali families have a notable effect on Rituparno's works. He adapted Tagore's novel Chokherbali and described the character Binodini in his version. He depicted the unique equation between two female characters 'Binodini' and 'Ashalata' and their affinity towards the same man. He enlightened the impenitent sensual desire of a widow (Binodini) and her ego. The film, Chokherbali (A Grain of Sand) is a story of the love, desire, and loneliness of women. "Bariwali," also known as "The Lady of the House," is a Bengali film released in 2000. The story of a lonely, wealthy woman named Banalata, played by Kirron Kher, who becomes emotionally attached to a young filmmaker who comes to shoot a documentary at her mansion. The film explores themes of loneliness, desire, and the complexities of human relationships. Rituparno Ghosh was known for his sensitive storytelling and exploration of human emotions, and "Bariwali" is no exception. G.D. Anderson once quoted, "Feminism isn't about making women strong, women are already strong. It's about changing the way the world perceives that strength. Source.” The same in the case of Rituparno Ghosh as an auteur who wrote his female characters very diligently and portrayed them on screen Muneer (2022). This is qualitative research and it critically analysed the storyline of the film ‘Chokher Bali’ and ‘Bariwali directed by Rituparno Ghosh. The study focussed on the female desire auteur theory and framing theory and it finds out the motivation behind his female desires, motivation and agony. The research paper deals with women’s issues, desires, and struggles for their existence in the contemporary socio-cultural context by analysing the frames and narratives.