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 “Badri Ki Dulhania” from the Bollywood movie Badrinath Ki Dulhania.

Link to video: Badri Ki Dulhania (Title Track) Varun, Alia, Tanishk, Neha, Monali, Ikka | “Badrinath Ki Dulhania”

Evaluating Masculinity

  • Reinforcing stereotypes
    • The main male character is often shown with sunglasses on and wearing black clothing. His appearance, in combination with his mannerisms, present him as stereotypically dominant and having a strong personality.
    • Throughout the song, the phrase “Badri ki dulhania” is repeated. Badri is the name of the main male character, and this phrase translates to “Badri’s bride” or “the bride of Badri.” Referring to the main female character as being “Badri’s bride” reinforces the idea of Badri, as a man, being stereotypically dominant over his bride, independent, and self-reliant. 
  • Resisting stereotypes
    • The main male character is seen softly touching the main female character’s face in several instances, which resists stereotypically masculine traits like aggressive and individualistic and instead portrays stereotypically feminine traits like affectionate and gentle.
    • At several points, the men and women are wearing relatively equally revealing clothing. These instances of a somewhat equal standard of modesty resist stereotypes.

Evaluating Femininity

  • Reinforcing stereotypes
    • Many of the women in this music video, including the main female character, are shown with pink, red, or purple clothing, accessories, lighting, and more, associating femininity with stereotypically warm colors.
    • In a couple instances, the main male character is shown picking up, holding, and twirling the main female character. This portrays the female character as childlike.
  • Resisting stereotypes
    • In one instance, the main female character playfully shoves the main male character away, portraying the female character as assertive and forceful, stereotypically masculine traits.
    • In most instances, the women in the music video are doing the same dance moves as the men. In general, these dance moves are not overly feminine and can portray stereotypically masculine traits like forcefulness and strong personality.
    • The main female character makes eye contact with the main male character and with the camera many times and also makes many distinct facial expressions throughout the music video. In this way, she is portrayed as less shy and instead having a more strong personality, a stereotypically masculine trait.

Shared by: Seela Raj
Image Credit: https://i.ndtvimg.com/i/2017-02/badrinath_640x480_71486380786.jpg