4th O Womaniya! Report finds Decline in Women's Representation in South Movie Industry

By: WE Staff | Friday, 3 January 2025

The O Womaniya! 2024 report by Ormax Media and Film Companion Studios, presented by Prime Video India, shows a decline in female representation in the head of department roles in Telugu films, dropping from 5 per cent in 2021 to 3 per cent in 2023. The report analyzes 169 Indian films and series, identifying gaps in female representation in production, corporate leadership, and marketing across nine languages.

The O Womaniya! Report introduced a Gender Equality Toolkit to measure female representation in content. The test assesses whether women have agency and drive their stories. Only 31 per cent of titles passed, with streaming series leading with 45 per cent. More stories pass when a female commissioning-in-charge is present. The traditional Bechdel Test also falls short.

The report added that the South Indian film industry is significantly underrepresented in gender equality. The study found that only 15 per cent of Head of Department (HOD) positions in key departments were held by women, with streaming films and series having over 20 per cent of HOD positions. Editing led with 18 per cent of films having female editors. Women still have only 29 per cent of talk time in trailers.

Despite challenges, film organizations and industry bodies are launching programs to mentor and support women in film, including workshops, networking events, and mentorship programs. Film festivals and awards recognize female filmmakers' achievements, while some production houses implement policies to promote gender diversity.