Bollywood’s ‘Badnaam Begums’: Representation of Women in ‘Item Numbers’

Abstract

The word ‘item’, in common parlance, has multifarious connotations which it has acquired over time. It is often used as a derogatory term to objectify a person, usually a woman. The mushrooming of ‘item songs’ in Bollywood movies from the 1990s onwards is only an indication that it is a popular phenomenon, which has continued the legacy of ‘song and dance’ as was evinced from the very onset. The purposes of introducing an item song in a commercial movie are manifold – they serve as a source of entertainment for the masses; they help in promotional activities; they add to the glamour quotient: they also provide a respite from the continuous action of the movie, and act as a suitable break; but, most importantly, they add to the overall visual pleasure and enrich the experience of the audience. In Bollywood movies, an ‘item song’ traditionally centres around a female protagonist whose identity has been unidirectionally channelized towards the role of a temptress who can arouse a sense of eroticism among the audience. This paper intends to highlight upon the portrayal of women in these ‘item songs’ and how they have been commodified by the masses.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.65525/SVUP.9788196793241.2025.148-156