Representations of mothers having children with disability in Hindi cinema: a feminist thematic analysis

Abstract

Societal notions of disability are riddled with negative stereotypes with Tragedy, Charity and Medical models being most prevalent in people’s consciousness. India’s Hindi film industry caters to a massive audience and its films play a significant role in reflecting social dynamics, including those around disability. This study used the critical-feminist thematic analysis framework to assess portrayed intersections between motherhood and disability in three successful films- Taare Zameen Par (2007), Paa (2009), Hichki (2018). Four primary themes emerged - (i) Motherhood and other identities, (ii) Mothers as sources of emotional support (iii) Mothers as advocates (iv) Role of mothers vis-a-vis fathers. The films’ protagonists were depicted as enduring several challenging circumstances and mothers played a pivotal role in providing their children safe spaces. While all mothers were supportive of their children, differences in their responses were grounded in their levels of awareness about disability and their financial independence. Implications are discussed.