Female resistance in Newari cinema Rajamati, Silu and Patachera

Abstract

This research examines the unconventional endeavors of female protagonists in the selected Newari cinemasRajamati(1989), Silu(1995) and Patachara(2009). All of the three selected primary texts narrate discretely different stories that revolve around major female characters. Rajamati stages the prodigal life of a beautiful though luckless girl. The plot of Silu presents the female character's decision to venture for a holy pilgrimage. Diversely, Patachara is a movie that portrays the journey towards redemption of one of the adherent disciples of Gautama Buddha. All of the three protagonists are at prone to a certain degree of physical or mental violation from the individual or community to whom theybelong. For this, they are fully aware about the vulnerability of their personal rights and choice. Thus, they mark milestones in their lives to show resistance against the established cultural gender stereotypes by retreating to live in accordance to the cultural prejudices in the community.This study explores the possible corners of my primary texts to establish the fact that the females in the selected cinemas deny to act in accordance with the cultural conventions of the society. They show their instinctive denial towards the preordained cultural gender roles in one way or the other to establish their existence and identity and to live a contented autonomous life. I claim that the female resistance shown in the movies is the microscopic version of cultural resistance of Newars in the state level. Hence, in this research, I argue that resistance is not only a way to 'defy'something but also a way to 'define' something else. In analyzing and interpreting my assumption, I will consider the conceptualization of resistance by Jocelyn A. Hollander and Rachel L. Einwohner and the insight of popular culture- resistance relationship of Kasper Maase as theoretical parameters. Besides, Stuart Hall's theory of cultural studies will also be under close consideration for my study. Keywords:autonomy, cinemas,feminity, culture, resistance, identity, Nepal Bhasa