Film Screening of Nari: A Woman's Quest for Identity

The Department of English and Cultural Studies, in collaboration with the CHRIST Language & Arts Network (CLAN), organized a screening of Nari: A Woman’s Quest for Identity, a thought-provoking short film produced by Art Infinitii and directed by Rita Dutt. The event served as an important platform for engaging with contemporary questions surrounding gender, identity, and representation, particularly within the socio-cultural frameworks that continue to shape women’s lives.

Nari offers a nuanced exploration of female identity, focusing on the often-unseen pressures imposed by societal expectations and entrenched cultural norms. Through its layered narrative, the film draws attention to the “invisible shackles” that govern women’s choices, behaviors, and self-perceptions. These constraints are not always overt; rather, they are deeply embedded in everyday practices, traditions, and belief systems that subtly dictate what it means to be a woman in society. By portraying these dynamics, the film encourages viewers to critically reflect on how gender roles are constructed, internalized, and perpetuated.

At the same time, the film does not present women solely as passive recipients of these constraints. Instead, it foregrounds their resilience, agency, and capacity for negotiation. The protagonist’s journey becomes emblematic of a broader struggle for self-definition, where identity is not fixed but continually shaped through acts of resistance, adaptation, and self-assertion. This dual focus on both limitation and empowerment, allows Nari to move beyond simplistic binaries and offer a more complex understanding of women’s lived experiences.

The screening was designed not merely as a passive viewing experience but as an intellectually engaging exercise that invites critical dialogue. It sought to create a space where students and faculty could interrogate dominant narratives about womanhood and consider alternative perspectives. By situating the film within an academic context, the event highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, drawing from cultural studies, gender theory, and media analysis, to better understand how representation functions in shaping social realities.

Furthermore, the collaboration with the CHRIST Language & Arts Network (CLAN) underscores the role of creative and performative platforms in fostering meaningful discussions on social issues. Film, as a medium, has the unique ability to evoke empathy while also prompting critical reflection, making it particularly effective in addressing complex themes such as identity and marginalization.

Overall, the screening of Nari: A Woman’s Quest for Identity contributed to an ongoing conversation about the challenges and negotiations that define women’s experiences in contemporary society. It encouraged participants to question normative frameworks, recognize the multiplicity of female identities, and engage more thoughtfully with issues of gender justice and representation.