Introduction...

1913, the birth of Bollywood cinema, binding ‘together an astonishing admixture of cultures’[1] also portrayed a patriarchal ideology. Hindi cinema has always emphasised a male dominated society with males having dominant roles, this can also be seen throughout Hollywood movies with the birth of Hollywood in 1920’s. Females throughout Bollywood cinema always had roles as the wife or as an old mother. However, cinema has rapidly changed over the years with Bollywood cinema portraying women as “sex objects” an aspect existing in Hollywood from its birth.

[1] Merchant, Ismail (2004): "Indian Cinema THE BOLLYWOOD SAGA", Great Britain, Aurum Press LTD.