Milan Chauhan
Biographic Data
| ID | 127314 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Milan Chauhan |
| GIVEN NAMES | Milan |
| FAMILY NAME | Chauhan |
| SIGNATURE | CHAUHAN M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Indian Institute of Technology BHU |
| ORCID | 0009-0005-1736-7401 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 9 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 1 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 9 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2024 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Heroes, Villains, and the Divine: Shifting Portrayals of Myth in Contemporary Indian Films
Action films have received immense popularity, both critically and commercially. They have reshaped the portrayal of heroes in contemporary times. This epic narrative often elevates the classic action hero to a mythological figure. Such transformations reflect not only creative innovation but also deeper archetypal patterns that shape the mythic foundations of these stories. This study argues that the heroes evolve from traditional mythic ideals …
Double-Edged Sword: Unearthing Toxicity in Bollywood’s Empowered Female Characters
The representation of women in contemporary Bollywood films has offered valuable insights into the discourse surrounding the feminine sphere. Within the patriarchal framework, critiques of femininity have emerged, advocating for positive depictions of ‘strong females.’ This study delves into movies featuring empowered female characters, mainly focusing on the analysis of Khiladiyon ka Khiladi (1996), Fukrey (2013), Gulaab Gang (2014), and Begum J…
From oral tradition to cultural commodity: The appropriation of Kajarī folksongs
This study explores the female-centric tradition of Kajarī folksongs in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It focuses on how rural women historically used folksongs to express desire, resistance, and critiques of gender norms. Over time, upper-caste and class performers have transformed Kajarī. They have professionalized and commercialized, which has resulted in the marginalization of its original rural custodians. This shift has diluted the songs’ subvers…
Reinterpreting the Play: Women’s Cultural Performance as a Subversive Site
This study investigates women’s performances, such as Khela-Tamasha (play-act), Nakkal (enactment/imitation), and Kajari folksongs, as potent tools for questioning the gender stereotypes and hegemonic gender ideals which subordinate women. To achieve the objectives of this study, ethnographic data were collected in 2022-2023 across Mirzapur, located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Drawing on Judith Butler’s gender performativity theory and …
Femininity reinterpreted: An Ethnographic Study of Women's Folk Speech in Kajarī Folk Song
Echoes of defiance: Subversive language, ritualized transgression, and place-making in Mirzapur's Kajarī folksongs
Echoes of liminality: Hidden transcripts and subtle resistance in Bhojpuri-speaking women's Kajari folksongs
In North India, Kajari is both a festival and a folksong, offering a starting point to explore the subversive practices of Mallah caste Bhojpuri-speaking women in ritualised and performative contexts. The study uses ethnographic data, such as rituals and folksong as source material collected between 2021 and 2023. With James Scott's idea of hidden transcripts, Victor Turner's concept of liminality and liminoid provides theoretical lenses to exami…
Creating Place: The Role of Festival, Kajarī Folk Songs, and Rituals in Mirzapur
This article examines the role of the Kajarī festival and folk songs in the socio-cultural lives of rural women in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, India. It explores how the festival provides a unique space for rural women to assert their autonomy within a patriarchal society. Through ethnographic fieldwork, including the documentation of rituals, folk songs, and cultural activities, this study analyses the Kajarī festival as a place-making process. It …
Kajari Folk Songs: Mechanism for Emotional Regulation
This paper investigates Kajari folk songs as a coping mechanism, shedding light on their role in providing therapeutic support to women in North Indian society. Traditionally sung by women during the Sawan month (monsoon season), these songs serve as vital tools for women to navigate and cope with the constraints of society and gender norms. Despite the extensive research on North Indian folk songs, Kajari has received limited attention through t…
Creating Place: The Role of Festival, Kajarī Folk Songs, and Rituals in Mirzapur
This article examines the role of the Kajarī festival and folk songs in the socio-cultural lives of rural women in Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, India. It explores how the festival provides a unique space for rural women to assert their autonomy within a patriarchal society. Through ethnographic fieldwork, including the documentation of rituals, folk songs, and cultural activities, this study analyses the Kajarī festival as a place-making process. It …
Kajari Folk Songs: Mechanism for Emotional Regulation
This paper investigates Kajari folk songs as a coping mechanism, shedding light on their role in providing therapeutic support to women in North Indian society. Traditionally sung by women during the Sawan month (monsoon season), these songs serve as vital tools for women to navigate and cope with the constraints of society and gender norms. Despite the extensive research on North Indian folk songs, Kajari has received limited attention through t…
Reinterpreting the Play: Women’s Cultural Performance as a Subversive Site
This study investigates women’s performances, such as Khela-Tamasha (play-act), Nakkal (enactment/imitation), and Kajari folksongs, as potent tools for questioning the gender stereotypes and hegemonic gender ideals which subordinate women. To achieve the objectives of this study, ethnographic data were collected in 2022-2023 across Mirzapur, located in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Drawing on Judith Butler’s gender performativity theory and …
Femininity reinterpreted: An Ethnographic Study of Women's Folk Speech in Kajarī Folk Song
Echoes of defiance: Subversive language, ritualized transgression, and place-making in Mirzapur's Kajarī folksongs
Echoes of liminality: Hidden transcripts and subtle resistance in Bhojpuri-speaking women's Kajari folksongs
In North India, Kajari is both a festival and a folksong, offering a starting point to explore the subversive practices of Mallah caste Bhojpuri-speaking women in ritualised and performative contexts. The study uses ethnographic data, such as rituals and folksong as source material collected between 2021 and 2023. With James Scott's idea of hidden transcripts, Victor Turner's concept of liminality and liminoid provides theoretical lenses to exami…
Heroes, Villains, and the Divine: Shifting Portrayals of Myth in Contemporary Indian Films
Action films have received immense popularity, both critically and commercially. They have reshaped the portrayal of heroes in contemporary times. This epic narrative often elevates the classic action hero to a mythological figure. Such transformations reflect not only creative innovation but also deeper archetypal patterns that shape the mythic foundations of these stories. This study argues that the heroes evolve from traditional mythic ideals …
Double-Edged Sword: Unearthing Toxicity in Bollywood’s Empowered Female Characters
The representation of women in contemporary Bollywood films has offered valuable insights into the discourse surrounding the feminine sphere. Within the patriarchal framework, critiques of femininity have emerged, advocating for positive depictions of ‘strong females.’ This study delves into movies featuring empowered female characters, mainly focusing on the analysis of Khiladiyon ka Khiladi (1996), Fukrey (2013), Gulaab Gang (2014), and Begum J…
From oral tradition to cultural commodity: The appropriation of Kajarī folksongs
This study explores the female-centric tradition of Kajarī folksongs in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. It focuses on how rural women historically used folksongs to express desire, resistance, and critiques of gender norms. Over time, upper-caste and class performers have transformed Kajarī. They have professionalized and commercialized, which has resulted in the marginalization of its original rural custodians. This shift has diluted the songs’ subvers…
Sociology (5 works) · Aesthetics (4 works) · Art (4 works) · Gender Studies (3 works) · South Asian Cinema and Culture (3 works) · South Asian Studies and Conflicts (3 works) · Diverse Musicological Studies (2 works) · Gender Studies (2 works) · Politics and Conflicts in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Middle East (2 works) · Anthropological Studies and Insights (1 works)