Author(s): Elia Mahmood

Abstract: The 2012 Nirbhaya case marked a watershed moment in India’s gender discourse, triggering a paradigm shift in both journalistic and cinematic narratives. This study explores how the post-Nirbhaya decade (2011–2020) transformed the representation of gender and nation across Indian media, particularly Hindi cinema. Drawing upon feminist media theory and postcolonial gender perspectives, the paper investigates how public outrage and social media activism reshaped the narrative frameworks of mainstream entertainment and news. Through textual analysis of selected films—including Kahaani (2012), Queen (2014), Piku (2015), Raazi (2018), and Thappad (2020)—the study highlights the emergence of women-centric narratives that challenge patriarchal norms and foreground female subjectivity. Concurrently, evolving portrayals of masculinity reflect a gradual move toward emotional sensitivity and gender equality. The findings suggest that post-2011 media discourses signify a transformative shift: from sensationalized victimhood to empowered agency, and from gendered nationalism to inclusive citizenship. By situating these transformations within the broader socio-political context of digital activism and neoliberal reform, the paper argues that the post-Nirbhaya era represents a crucial cultural reorientation in India’s media ecosystem.

Keywords: Nirbhaya Case, Gender Representation, Feminist Media, Hindi Cinema, Masculinity, OTT Platforms, Digital Feminism

Article Info: Received: 17 Oct 2025; Received in revised form: 15 Nov 2025; Accepted: 20 Nov 2025; Available online: 25 Nov 2025

DOI: 10.22161/ijels.106.28