YRF’s spy universe has a woman problem, and it’s beyond bikinis
From medal ceremonies to midriff shots, YRF’s spy universe has reduced its women from agents to accessories. And no, a “women-led” ‘Alpha’ won’t fix a universe that can’t imagine its heroines doing anything more than waiting for the hero to save the day.
In Short
- YRF’s spy universe sidelines women to damsels or domestic roles
- All the films in the spy universe so far hardly give any agency to women
- From Katrina, Deepika to Kiara and Vaani – women are ornamental, not operational
What is wrong with YRF’s spy universe? No, really. It’s not just about ‘War 2’ – though, sure, that’s the weakest film in the franchise, but that rant is for another day. Today’s agenda: why does this globe-trotting prestige spy franchise have a glaring woman problem? Why are its women either dying, playing damsels in distress, or retreating into domestic bliss the moment they meet their male counterparts on a mission?
We get it – this is the Tiger-Pathaan-Kabir show. But would it hurt the makers to Take Katrina Kaif’s Zoya from the ‘Tiger’ series – the most promising female character they’ve had so far. We didn’t even mind her falling for Salman Khan’s Tiger. We even cheered at her bridal-song frolics. But once she tied the knot, she tied her own story shut.
Zoya started as a formidable ISI agent with skills to match Tiger’s, but by ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’, she was busy raising a child off-mission. Sure, she pops back in ‘Tiger 3’ to help Tiger save the day, but has mostly been kept away in the supporting wife folder while the hero’s arc wins the spotlight.
