Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care has lauded Netflix series 'Bombay Begums' for its candid portrayals of women and their struggles.
'Bombay Begums' — a series on urban women, has been lauded for its powerful and candid depiction of urban women.
The drama series, Bombay Begums, stands apart in the world of showbiz, where women are mostly stereotyped eye candies drafted in to add the oomph factor.
Far removed from reality, such characters cater to commercial interests and are often soon forgotten.
However, movies or television series depicting the life realities of women — with all the positives and negatives — with elan leave an indelible mark in the minds of the audience. Bombay Begums, directed by Alankrita Shrivastava and Bornila Chatterjee, is one among them, and it holds up a mirror to “determinants of women’s mental health”.
The series, streaming on Netflix, has now caught the attention of a handful of scholars and it claimed an enviable niche place for itself. It was even featured in the December 2023 issue of the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.
The article, jointly penned by a small group of researchers from the Christian Medical College, Ludhiana; AIIMS, Guwahati, and Sikkim University, Gangtok, explored the series’ impact on the understanding the women’s mental health. The article also recognised visual media as a powerful tool in medical and social education.
“Many women’s health and well-being issues are masterfully portrayed in the series, including workplace harassment, infertility, pregnancy loss, substance abuse, and experimentation, consent in sex work, menstruation, gender-related stigmatisation, and discrimination experiences,” the article encapsulated Bombay Begums in a nutshell.
Set in the vibrant Maximum City, Mumbai, Bombay Begums provides a compelling narrative of the lives of five women from varied backgrounds, each individual grappling with unique challenges.
The journal hailed the series for its authentic portrayal of issues such as infertility gender discrimination, and the pressures of societal expectations.
The authors claimed that through its characters and storylines, Bombay Begums offers a window to the complex world of women’s mental health, providing viewers with a deeper understanding of the psychological impacts of their everyday struggles.
The series effectively portrayed the underlying physical as well as the mental health impact of varied circumstances on the characters, they said in the article, Bombay Begums—A Treasure for Social Guidance Films on Determinants of Women’s Mental Health.
The first episode, they said, portrayed Rani Irani (played by Pooja Bhat), the CEO of the Royal Bank of Bombay, trying to hide her hot flashes.
“Rani thinks she will be judged by people around who would demean her if they get a chance,” the researchers spoke of the episode in which the central character wrestles with menopausal symptoms.
The authors explained that the physical process of going through menopause could involve mental health consequences which could be hot flashes — irritability, low mood, low self-esteem, constant feeling of being judged, etc.
Rani goes through these mental conditions and the researchers argued that there are several women in society undergoing menopausal challenges discussed in the series. “This can be learning,” was the authors’ collective refrain.
Meanwhile, the first episode also discussed infertility, assisted reproduction, and pregnancy loss, major concerns for several women living among us.
Here, the couple grappling with infertility issues, Fatima Warsi (Shahana Goswami) and her husband, Arijai (Vivek Gomber) are shown seeking assisted reproduction. She undergoes hormonal and In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatments, and conceives.
“The clip shows her suffering a miscarriage with a massive loss of blood, leading to Fatima falling into depression, and having adjustment issues with her husband.” It also highlighted the importance of infertility counselling, the analysis argued.
Episodes three and four speak about harassment in workplace. Ayesha (Plabita Borthakur) was sexually harassed by Deepak Sanghvi (Manish Choudhary) a senior official at the bank. She refuses to file a case, fearing that it will endanger her career. She also faced harassment by her mentor.
The authors stated that the mental health consequences depicted here are trauma, agitation, lack of interest, isolation, and negative impact on confidence and self-esteem with sleep disorders.
“Here the learning for mental health practitioners is about the struggles of women at the workplace are qualitatively different. Women face objectification and sometimes may even have to engage in physician intimacy to rise through glass ceilings,” the researchers argued.
In another episode, Shai (Aadhya Anand), who has not yet hit menarche, tries to win a boy’s attention by pretending to be on her period and expressing sexual maturity.
The authors identified the series depicting the issues of image consciousness, low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety through Shai. “For mental health practitioners, the learning here is about the taboos and evolving thought process of a young child such as conflating attractiveness with sexual maturity,” the article noted.
Another episode is about sexual experimentation. Ayesha, despite being in a heterosexual relationship, falls for a woman she meets at a bar.
The authors stated that the mental health consequence is depicted as internal stigma, exclusion experiences, social withdrawal, and isolation that can lead to depression, adjustment disorder, and body image issues. The episode also imparts lessons on bias, discrimination, and the stereotyping of gender and sexual minorities.
“Both menarche and menopause represent periods of emotional upheavals, sometimes contextualised and at other times complicated by psychological ill health such as irritability, mood fluctuation, role stresses, self-devaluation, and body-image issues amongst others,” the scholars said.
While Bombay Begums received accolades for its impeccable storytelling and performances, the series also sparked controversies, especially over the depiction of drug use among adolescents. This aspect has been a point of debate, demonstrating the fine line media productions take in influencing public opinion and societal norms.
The authors argued that visual media presentations like Bombay Begums can be a powerful tool for education.
“Such media forms offer engaging, relatable, and accessible content that can effectively raise awareness and stimulate discussions on sensitive topics,” the authors averred.
Meanwhile, they said that the series can help in healthcare education. “This approach can be particularly impactful, offering an innovative method to teach and sensitise healthcare professionals and students about the nuances of women’s mental health.”
The authors concluded that Bombay Begums provides ample scope for incorporating social guidance or encouraging more films to educate budding professionals and laypersons about the determinants of women’s health and mental health.
“Many difficult and lesser-understood issues are brought to the fore through the masterful screenplay and performances,” the authors said. Besides directors Shrivastava and Chatterjee, Iti Agarwal, too was involved in the screenplay.
Speaking to South First, mental health experts said the inclusion of Bombay Begums in a medical journal is more than just an acknowledgment of its artistic merit: It represents a paradigm shift in the way educational content is perceived and utilised in the medical and healthcare sectors.
It highlights the evolving role of media in shaping public understanding and professional training in healthcare, particularly in the realm of mental health and social issues, they argued.
“The content on OTT platforms reaches a diverse audience. Therefore, when the content on OTT addresses neglected or stigmatised topics such as women’s physical and mental health issues, it can assist in busting myths and stereotypes and building nuanced awareness on the issues,” Dr Ashwini NV, Director of Muktha Foundation, which works towards the cause of women, said,
She explained that highlighting the diverse health-related stories and experiences of women from varied backgrounds makes women feel seen, heard, understood, and, most importantly, included in discussions on health.
“It can act as an important step in encouraging dialogue on the matter of women’s physical and mental health, which in turn encourages them to seek help and take charge of their overall health,” she further said.
“When the content, irrespective of the platform, is well-researched, nuanced, and solution-focused, it empowers an entire community on the topic and fosters understanding and support for those affected by physical and mental health concerns,” she added.
Echoing Dr Ashwini’s views, filmmaker Kavitha Lankesh said including the series in the journal showed the growing recognition of OTT platforms as powerful influencers in shaping public opinion and societal norms.
“When the content on these platforms tackles vital issues such as women’s health, it has the potential to create a ripple effect that extends beyond mere viewership, influencing policy advocacy and public discourse,” she opined.
“At its core, content of this nature serves to normalise conversations on topics that have long been sidelined or stigmatised, fulfilling a crucial need in contemporary society. This shift in content creation and consumption underscores the vital role of media in not only entertaining but also educating and shaping public awareness on key social issues,” Lankesh said.
She added that “in today’s fast-paced world, women often find themselves under immense pressure to perform flawlessly in every aspect of their lives, whether as professionals, mothers, or in personal relationships. This relentless pursuit of perfection is a heavy burden, one that is often self-imposed due to societal expectations,”
Series like Bombay Begums serve as a much-needed wake-up call, vividly portraying the realities and challenges faced by women. They highlight the imperfections and struggles that are part of every woman’s life, reminding us that it is okay to not be perfect.
“This kind of representation is crucial in helping to alleviate the pressure that so many women feel, offering a sense of solidarity and understanding that can be incredibly empowering,” Lankesh asserted.
The study also called for a comprehensive approach to women’s health, extending beyond physical aspects to include mental well-being. It emphasised the need for considering wider social, legal, and economic factors as influential determinants of mental health.
“Women’s health should reach beyond the narrow perspective of maternal and reproductive health and should encompass physical as well as mental health across the life cycle,” the article said.
The focus should shift to broader, social, legal, and economic factors rather than just immersing in lifestyle and individual factors. Recognition of mental health issues among women, education, training, and interventions at various levels would contribute to the improvement of mental health issues among women, the researchers added.
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