As we bring the first season of this podcast to a close, hosts Deepali and Soumya are joined by Breakthrough's CEO, Sohini Bhattacharya, to reflect on the story so far. They delve into Breakthrough's impactful work in challenging gender norms and the dominant cultural narrative through the lens of pop culture.

They reminisce about Breakthrough's pioneering campaigns like “Mann ke Manjeere,” which aimed to engage people in conversations about domestic violence; and "Bell Bajao," which encouraged men to stand up against it. They discuss the power of storytelling, and highlight moments from the podcast where female friendships, women uplifting women, and representation in media were explored. They emphasise the importance of seeding narratives through various cultural platforms and reaching out to audiences in regional languages to make the message more accessible.

They also touch upon Breakthrough’s ongoing research that aims to decode contemporary pop culture and develop intervention strategies that promote inclusivity and representation both on and off-screen.

Sohini Bhattacharya is the CEO of Breakthrough, an organisation focused on transforming gender norms and building the leadership of young people to prevent gender-based violence. She has worked in the development sector for 30+ years with a focus on women and empowerment. She has been closely connected to the Women’s Movement in India and co-founded Sanhita Gender Resource Centre — the first of its kind in Eastern India in 1996.

Know more about Breakthrough’s work at https://inbreakthrough.org/

Our Guest:

Sohini Bhattacharya

Find them on social media

Instagram @InBreakthrough

Twitter @InBreakthrough

Facebook @InBreakthrough

Or email us if you have questions contact@inbreakthrough.org / contact@maed.in

This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni

Producer: Meghna Gulati

Sound Editing & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni

Artwork: Alika Gupta

Today, our host Soumya is in conversation with two standup comics: Abish Mathew and Manjeet Sarkar to discuss the representation of men in pop culture and how the norm is evolving from the angry young man to more layered characters.

From reminiscing about childhood influences in Hindi and Malayalam cinema, to finding resonance in the works of Satyajit Ray, they discuss how everyday conversations at work and home have evolved over the years to include kinder, and more in depth perspectives. They also touch upon themes like the need for unlearning and relearning, the lack of a vernacular in regional languages to express ideals of feminism, and the very pronounced urban vs rural divide.

Abish Mathew started his career as a prime time radio host for Hit 95 FM, before becoming a comedian. Today, he is a formidable force in the comedy circuit and runs his own enterprise called Absurdist Studios through which he hosts his shows Son of Abish & Journey of a Joke.

Manjeet Sarkar is a stand-up comic who has been breaking new ground in comedy for over six years. He’s recently produced, directed and released a compelling documentary called Untouchable: Laughing Out Caste. He’s currently on a world tour with his standup solo show and feature film.

Know more about Breakthrough’s work at https://inbreakthrough.org/

Our Guests:

Abish Mathew

Manjeet Sarkar

Find them on social media

Instagram @InBreakthrough

Twitter @InBreakthrough

Facebook @InBreakthrough

Or email us if you have questions contact@inbreakthrough.org / contact@maed.in

This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni

Producer: Meghna Gulati

Sound Editing & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni

Artwork: Alika Gupta

In this episode of Keeping it Feminist, our host Deepali welcomes seasoned film critic Sucharita Tyagi; and Monisha Singh Katial, a former creative head at Balaji Telefilms who has since ventured into film production. Together, they delve into the pressing theme of women storytellers behind the scenes.

We examine how the dynamics of women's representation in television scripting and production differ from those on the silver screen, and OTT platforms. From discussions on the impact of commercialisation and societal norms on storytelling to the role of film criticism in shaping public discourse, the episode offers a nuanced exploration of women's voices in the entertainment industry.

Monisha Singh Katial began her career by conquering the country's popular imagination with the mother of all saas bahu sagas on Television – Kyunki Saas Bhi Bahu Thi; and moved on to making much varied content on small and big screen. Having been the first creative head at Balaji Telefilms with Ekta Kapoor and going on to work at UTV and zoOm, she’s currently producing a feature film, podcasts, is a theatre actor and an entrepreneur.

Sucharita Tyagi started her career as radio jockey in Delhi before becoming one of the leading film critics in the country right now. Having also been associated with Film Companion in the past, she’s worked hard over the years to promote the need for women reclaiming their own narratives and you can check out a lot of her content helmed under the hashtag: Women Telling Women’s Stories.

Know more about Breakthrough’s work at https://inbreakthrough.org/

Our Guests:

Monisha Singh Katial

Sucharita Tyagi

Find them on social media

Instagram @InBreakthrough

Twitter @InBreakthrough

Facebook @InBreakthrough

Or email us if you have questions contact@inbreakthrough.org / contact@maed.in

This is a Maed In India Production; check us out at www.maedinindia.in

Creative Director: Mae Mariyam Thomas

Project Manager: Shaun Fanthome

Head of Audio Production: Kartik Kulkarni

Producer: Meghna Gulati

Sound Editing & Mixing: Kartik Kulkarni

Artwork: Alika Gupta