Fitmus Test Analysis of Women Centric Tamil Films by Women Filmmakers

Films have always been a successful medium of conveying messages to audience of all classes. While it is glorified for the recreation it gives to its audience, it cannot be denied that they are also carries of powerful messages. Cinema is often said to be a reflection of the society in an exaggerated version and many films try to convey impactful messages to the society aiming at some reformation in the way people think. False beliefs and ideologies are often criticized in movies even in the early 70’s and continue to remain even now. Apart from a strong story line, women have always remained as the main source of entertainment in movies. They are represented as sex objects and submissive to the protagonist who accepts patriarchy even in crudest form and still enduring patience. While majority of the movies glorify women as sex objects, few movies have taken women in the lead role and have tried to convey that women are no less than men. While there are many yardsticks that help determine whether a film really talks about women empowerment, like the Bechdel test (1985), The Mako Mori test (2013), Sexy Lamp Test (2013), Furiosa test (2015), these tests are more suitable for movies of the west. The Fitmus Test (2017) is designed for Indian films which is a combination of all the tests and additionally says that a film must have ‘female character integrity, and that they are not for mere ‘male utility’. The test also demands that the films should have cultural sensitivity. This study aims to analyze women centric Tamil movies directed by women film makers and see whether they really empower womanhood.