Gender in Malayalam Films

Music has the ability to influence the society. The letter titled “The Rhythm of Caste” (EPW, 17 October 2020) points out how caste and hegemonic measures are played out through music in Malayalam films. As an extension, this is a small note that attempts to point out that films are not only propagating caste hegemony through classical music, but also gender hegemony.

A series of articles published in EPW precisely point out how Carnatic music keeps its elite nature through class and gender. Mythri P U, in her article “Purified Carnatic Music and Impure People,” points out that “Carnatic music preserves its classical identity not only through its musicality, but also by carefully creating and enforcing codes of conduct based on caste, gender, culture, aesthetics, and attire for both artists and connoisseurs.” These codes of conduct are highly patriarchal and control the Malayalam film industry.