Pratichi Chowdhury

Female and the Occult: Re-defining Female Autonomy in Stree and Bulbbul

This paper explores the theme of female autonomy extensively with special reference to demanding female authority, rights, and freedom through the ‘occult’ form. The study involves a literary analysis of two popular Bollywood films Stree (2018) and Bulbbul (2020) and their larger-than-life portrayals of female autonomy in the occult form. Also, the paper tries to analyze how males become ‘the secondary sex’ in a patriarchal society while women are considered the dominant. This paper highlights females’ retreat over the male dominated society. Also, a subtle critique of the imposition of the mumpsimus ways of the society upon women, is presented in the paper. The binary between the male order and female subjugation has been completely overturned in these films. Though represented in occult forms, the female protagonists in these films symbolize every woman from every sphere and enforces the idea that men become recreants when facing any challenge or when restricted from enjoying freedom and power. Moreover, through feminist theories and readings, the study includes the theoretical analysis of women’s emancipation within the surroundings of Stree and Bulbul. Through the lens of feminism, the study provides an explorative area of how these films highlight the subverted gender dynamics. The paper also presents female empowerment challenging the long-standing patriarchal traditions and the societal expectations to accept the autonomy of women in occult practices.