Voices from the Margins: A Multidimensional Reading of Dalit Masculinities in Telugu Cinema скачать в хорошем качестве

Voices from the Margins: A Multidimensional Reading of Dalit Masculinities in Telugu Cinema

Talk by Bhagya Shree Nadamala, UGC-Senior Research Fellow (PhD), Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Patna This webinar explores the construction of masculinity and its interconnectedness with caste, with a particular focus on Dalit masculinity in contemporary Telugu cinematic narratives. Masculinity has been a pervasive yet implicit aspect of Telugu cinema, reflected in upper-caste identities, screen images, and song compositions that reinforce normative masculine ideals. However, since 2018, mainstream Telugu cinema has witnessed shifts, with Dalit identities gaining visibility. By analyzing Rangasthalam (2018) and Palasa 1978 (2020), this presentation examines Dalit men’s fluid positioning within gender and caste discourse. This research employs a multidimensional model to decode masculinities within hierarchical structures, power dynamics, and identity politics. Moderated by Andrea Paras, Associate Professor & Director, Guelph Institute of Development Studies. Presented by: Canada India Research Centre for Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE): canadaindiaresearch.ca. Recorded June 11, 2025. College of Social and Applied Human Sciences: csahs.uoguelph.ca