Matrilineality and the portrayal of women in Meghalaya cinema

Abstract Films from Northeast India, a region that exemplifies diversity in language as well as culture, have gained global recognition over the years and are thriving artistically, yet they remain largely unexplored. Although a lot of studies have been done on gender inequality in Indian mainstream films, regional films, especially films from the northeast, have received very little attention. The current study investigates the representation of women in films from Meghalaya, a region known for its unique matrilineal social structure. The top ten most viewed films from each of the three tribal languages of Meghalaya were selected to examine women’s on-screen presence and the nature of the portrayal. Results indicate that despite Meghalaya society being matrilineal, women are underrepresented and are portrayed more in stereotypical character types. It is indicated that women in Meghalaya’s cinema experience symbolic annihilation through representational absence, condemnation, and trivialization.