Mainstreaming of Dalit Cinema Has Only Begun Even on the few occasions where Dalit characters are depicted on screen, they are portrayed through degraded stereotypical roles, mainly as poor or wretched people with no agency and power to change their precarious conditions. The early Hindi cinema, in particular, presented Dalit characters as humble and docile, physically challenged and drunkard or …
“The producers actually asked if I’m ‘100% Indian’,” recalls Sujata Day about an unfortunate audition experience for a major sitcom in 2018. I know I didn’t book the role because I clearly didn’t look ‘Indian enough’ to them.” Day, during a video call with The Hindu Weekend, shakes her head as she talks about the then-and-now of South Asian representation …
