From stereotype to subject Representation of Dalit female protagonists in over-the-top (OTT) Hindi films Dahaad and Kathal

Scholars of critical caste studies generally agree that mainstream literary and screen narratives often misrepresent Dalit subjectivity, thereby obscuring the deeply entrenched forms of inequality and oppression specific to Dalit experiences. As a conceptual framework, critical caste studies also delve into the nuances of Dalit experiences that differentiate one individual from another based on class, race, gender, religion, ethnicity and sexuality. The social architecture developing within such complex yet delicate layers of identities intersecting each other involves dynamics of politics and historical power relations and finds its place in literature, cinema or other forms of artistic representation. Considering these complexities, the article problematizes with a series of contemporary Dalit issues: (1) how has mainstream Hindi cinema evolved into queering the concept of the ‘hero’ as it transitions from male-centred to female-centred narratives, (2) what impact does the rise of streaming culture in India have on representation of Dalit women, (3) how are Dalit female characters portrayed as protagonists in films released on over-the-top (OTT) platforms and (4) what role does the upper-caste-fair male ‘hero’ who has been conspicuously emasculated in these films serve in synthesizing anti-caste gender discourse? To explore these concerns, the article examines the Hindi films Dahaad (2023) and Kathal: The Mystery of Jackfruit (2023), foregrounding a case study of how their representation contributes to public discourse around casteism and Dalit identity in India.