I am analyzing the most viewed Bollywood music videos on YouTube using the Sex Role Perspective. While analyzing with the Sex Role Perspective, I will utilize the items for evaluating masculinity and femininity as presented by Hyde (1995, p. 134), and these specific items will be italicized. In this post, I will be discussing the music video for “O Saki Saki” from the Bollywood movie Batla House.  

Link to video: Batla House: O SAKI SAKI Video | Nora Fatehi, Tanishk B, Neha K, Tulsi K, B Praak, Vishal-Shekhar

Evaluating Masculinity

  • Reinforcing stereotypes
    • One male character is shown shooting guns and physically fighting with other male characters in multiple scenes. These actions portray the male character as stereotypically aggressive, forceful, and willing to take risks.
    • While the main female character dances on stage, a large crowd of solely men surround the stage cheering and raising bottles of alcohol. This portrays the male characters as forceful, assertive, and stereotypically masculine in general. 
    • One male character is shown at a bar staring intently at the female character while she dances, making it obvious that this male character is dominant and has a strong personality.
  • Resisting stereotypes
    • The male characters in the large crowd act quite cheerful while watching the female character dance.

Evaluating Femininity

  • Reinforcing stereotypes
    • The main female character is very overtly an object for viewing by the male characters, as she dances on stage in a revealing sari. 
    • The main female character is largely cheerful and yielding to the desires of the male characters, as she dances on stage for an all-male crowd.
  • Resisting stereotypes
    • The female character makes eye contact with the camera and with others throughout the music video and makes fierce facial expressions. In this way, she is portrayed having a strong personality. 
    • The female character dances completely alone, while the male characters are always in crowds. Compared to the majority of the male characters, the female character appears independent, self-sufficient, and somewhat individualistic. 
    • The female character dances while twirling fire, showing that she is forceful and willing to take risks. 

Shared by: Seela Raj
Image Credit: https://cdn.dnaindia.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2019/07/12/847636-nora-fatehi-ok-saki-saki-batla-house.jpg