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Installation view of Items at the exhibition ‘Catalyst’, Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival, Xiamen, 2020
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Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu (My Name is Chin Chin Chu), 1958, Photographed with Pratima Sonni, 36, Physiotherapist & Fitness Trainer, Mumbai, 2013, Film
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Tora Man Bada Papi (You Big-hearted Sinner), 1961,
Photographed with Kajol Menon, 53, Social Worker & Mandovi Menon, 23, Music Journalist, Mumbai, 2013, Film
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Ms. Pamela (Miss Pamela), 1989, Photographed with Meghana Rao, 32, Social worker, Mumbai, 2013, Film
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O Haseena Zulfon Wali (Oh Beauty with Tresses), 1966, Photographed with Abhina Aher, 35, Transgender activist & Urmi Jadhav, 28, Dancer, Mumbai, 2013, Film
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Sheila ki Jawani (Youthful Sheila), 2010, Photographed with Margaret Da Costa, Professor, Mumbai, 2013, Film
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Items
2013
Film Photographs, Archival images (digital reprint), textAn item number is a music and dance spectacle prominent in commercial Indian cinema. It is unconnected to the filmic narrative and introduces a sexually charged female dancer, an item girl, often portrayed in contrast to the virginal female protagonist. The work Items challenges this idea through a series of portraits of women who wear the item girl costumes but in a defiant way, challenging the viewer to see them as empowered, three dimensional characters. Items offers an inclusive idea of femininity and sexuality while questioning popular patriarchal constructs. Originally exhibited as a multi-media installation, Items is a combination of photographic prints, archival images (as digital prints), and text.
