Jyotika on female characters in Tamil cinema: Malayalam industry is way ahead

Jyotika, a celebrated actress known for her impactful roles in Tamil cinema, recently opened up about films and OTT. With a career spanning decades, she has witnessed significant changes in the portrayal of women in Indian films. During a recent discussion, she shared her insights on how cinema has evolved, particularly with the rise of OTT platforms, which have opened doors for diverse storytelling and stronger female-led narratives.

Speaking about the industry's evolution to Pinkvilla and the cast of 'Dabba Cartel, Jyotika acknowledged that Indian cinema has seen positive changes, with a gradual merging of parallel and mainstream films. She emphasized that OTT platforms have provided actors with more opportunities to experiment with unique roles, allowing women to have a stronger presence on screen. However, when reflecting on South Indian cinema, she pointed out that a clear distinction still exists between mainstream films and women-centric projects, particularly in Tamil cinema, which has yet to embrace web series as much as other industries.

Jyotika specifically noted the disparity in the representation of female characters in Tamil films, stating, “We might not be getting the same kind of space in a popular hero’s film.” While she has predominantly worked in Tamil cinema, she observed that Malayalam cinema is far ahead in giving substantial roles to women. She added that only a minuscule percentage of Tamil films truly integrate female characters into hero-driven narratives, highlighting the industry's need to balance storytelling.

Further elaborating on this gap, she mentioned that character writing around male leads in Tamil cinema often lacks depth. In contrast, Hindi cinema, thanks to the OTT revolution, has evolved to create more balanced character arcs. She concluded by reiterating that Tamil cinema still has a long way to go in bridging this gap, while Malayalam cinema continues to lead in gender-inclusive storytelling.