Censorship, A Hurt Story: Hindutva and Populism in Post-Economic Liberalization India Available to Purchase

This article examines intertwined trajectories of Hindutva and populism in India by focusing on the repertoire of works by Leena Manimekalai, a queer independent, Indian filmmaker whose work unsettles heteronormative notions of gender, caste, sexuality, and the family. By addressing how the state mandated censorship regulates not only what audiences see, but also fosters a culture of “hurt” which is co-opted by the right-wing idealogues, our close reading of Manimekalai’s films show the ways in which her films challenge censorial restrictions by centering the experiences of the disenfranchised and the marginalized and their abilities to navigate and occupy public and private spaces. The camera positions viewers to see, hear, and experience the world through female protagonists. This orientation alerts viewers to hierarchies and sensitivities that are silenced and neglected in debates on censorship.