The Indian media industry is making significant strides in empowering women, but there is still a long way to go before achieving true gender parity. This was the focal point of a high-powered panel discussion at Mumbai’s Frames conference, organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Aparna Purohit, head of India and Southeast Asia originals at Amazon Prime Video, reflected on her early days in the industry, acknowledging the remarkable progress made in terms of the number of women in front of and behind the camera. Purohit also credited streaming platforms for democratizing the industry, creating new avenues and opportunities. She explained that Amazon Prime Video now requires every writer’s room to have at least one woman, and they are actively working towards achieving a 30% representation of women as heads of departments across their shows.
However, Purohit also highlighted the findings of a recent Indian media industry study, which revealed a lack of gender diversity in leadership positions. Only 30% of CEO positions in the media and entertainment sector are held by women, and just 12% of head of department positions across 150 programs and films studied were occupied by women. Purohit concluded that there is still a long way to go.
Emmy-winning producer Ektaa R. Kapoor, commissioning film and TV shows through her production house Balaji Telefilms, shared similar sentiments. While acknowledging the progress, Kapoor emphasized that it remains a challenging journey. She expressed the difficulty of getting films celebrating womanhood or feminism off the ground, with a preference for “misogynistic” and “macho” films. Kapoor added that the word “feminism” has become somewhat of a taboo.
Actor Richa Chadha, who turned producer with the Sundance-winning film “Girls Will Be Girls,” echoed the need for action beyond panel discussions. Chadha shared a practical example from her production, explaining how they broke the hegemony of all-male Indian gaffer crews. By enlisting experienced male lighting personnel to train their film’s team for intimate scenes involving female cast members, they empowered women to take on prime positions in the Indian industry.
Aradhana Bhola, Managing Director of Fremantle India, highlighted the positive impact of women’s equal representation. She mentioned that the 2023 season of Fremantle’s “Indian Idol” format achieved an ideal male-female ratio among the six finalists, demonstrating the transformative power of equal representation.
The discussion emphasized the need for continued efforts to empower women in the Indian media industry. While progress has been made, the journey towards true gender parity and inclusivity is ongoing.
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