Dabba Cartel EXCLUSIVE: Jyotika weighs in on growth of Tamil movies in portraying women; ‘Malayalam cinema is way ahead…’

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Recently, Jyotika engaged in a private discussion with TopMob, joined by her fellow Dabba Cartel cast members. During this insightful talk, the actress reflected on the transformations and development of the film industry she’s been part of throughout her distinguished career, as she was asked about these changes.

In reply, the actress pointed out that Indian cinema has seen significant expansion, blending parallel cinema and commercial films, notably with the rise of Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms. This development provides actors with a wider range of character options and offers increased opportunities for female characters as well.

Speaking about her preference for South cinema and Tamil films specifically, Jyotika commented, “While there’s progression in the industry, a certain divide persists between typical blockbusters and supposed ‘women-driven’ productions. We haven’t ventured far into the realm of web series yet.

The actress pointed out that she may not have the same level of prominence in a well-known action movie as other characters, since most of her work has been in Tamil cinema. However, she mentioned that Malayalam films are more progressive compared to Tamil ones when it comes to gender equality, with only a small percentage of Tamil movies being hero-centric roles for women.

Moreover, Jyotika pointed out that the character development in Tamil films often falls short compared to the hero’s portrayal. She also noted that the rise of Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms has allowed Hindi cinema to grow into a realm where all characters have an equal chance to shine.

She ended her speech by explaining that Tamil cinema should work on integrating these elements, whereas Malayalam cinema appears to be leading the pack in this regard.

Watch the exclusive chat with Dabba Cartel cast here:

Discussing the Dabba Cartel, a web series with Shabana Azmi, Jyotika, Shalini Pandey, Nimisha Sajayan among others, presents the story of five women operating a dabba (tiffin) service in Mumbai. Yet beneath this seemingly ordinary facade, these women manage a perilous drug cartel, navigating the treacherous landscape of organized crime. The series can be streamed on Netflix at present.

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2025-03-03 22:07