The latest edition of the O Womaniya! report shows slow but steady progress in representation of women in Indian entertainment across streaming and theatrical releases.
Prepared by Ormax Media and Film Companion, the report analyzed 156 films and series in 8 languages released in 2022. It evaluated women’s participation in creative departments, content portrayal, marketing, and corporate leadership.
Key findings indicate streaming continues to fare better than theatrical films in important metrics. Just 12% of 780 department head positions were held by women, a minor rise over 10% in 2021. Theatrical films saw no improvement.
Women Participation Improves, But..
In content, only 47% projects passed the Bechdel Test that measures women’s portrayal, down from 55% last year. Again, streaming titles performed better than theater releases.
In marketing, women got 27% talk time in trailers versus 33% for streaming films. Titles like Hush Hush, Gehraiyaan gave over 50% talk time to female leads.
The boardrooms of top media firms were only 13% women, highlighting the need for more inclusion.
Industry leaders have come forward with pledges to boost women’s participation. Alia Bhatt, Shakun Batra, Dharma Productions, among others have promised specific actions in their professional capacity.
The O Womaniya! report is a crucial benchmarking initiative by Prime Video, Ormax Media and Film Companion. Experts say while change is gradual, such efforts will positively impact female representation in the long ru
