How modern storytelling are heroes more relatable and vulnerable – Firstpost

No more six-packs and dishum dishum, men can be flawed in the best possible way, and that’s exactly what has been portrayed in the character of Shrirenu Tripathi (R. Madhavan). He is close to reality, his physique nothing of a hero. He has a paunch and is a chronic bachelor at 42. He is a Sanskrit teacher very unlike the heroes we are used to seeing on the big screen. And most importantly, he is real.

And not just Shrirenu Tripathi (
R. Madhavan) in Netflix’s Aap Jaisa Koi’, look at the character played by Pankaj Tripathi in Anurag Basu directorial
_Metro… In Dino_ opposite Konkona Sen Sharma. This change in the way we look at hero happened in India majorly with the OTT boom when the evolved audiences refused to swoon over heroes who were no way close to reality.

About Netflix’s ‘Aap Jaisa Koi’

Mind you, if you are not a virgin even at the age of thirty-four, you will surely have to go through a series of character assassinations. Well, 
Fatima Sana Shaikh plays the role of a Bong thirty-four-year-old French teacher from Kolkata who knows how to love fearlessly, and that’s where the problem starts.

Though Shrirenu is a chronic bachelor at 42 and is scared of even interacting with women. Women don’t find him appealing; they find Shrirenu to be aadbhut (weird). It is only Madhu who found this characteristic of him to be attractive. His honesty makes Madhu fall in love with him. He, too, is completely smitten by her.

The idea of machoism in hero is undergoing a shift in Bollywood. Adiciences want more nuanced heroes to whom they can relate to. The concept of masculinity is being questioned and being re-evaluated for good.

Lachmi Deb Roy is the Entertainment Editor of Firstpost, Network18. She reviews films and series with a gender lens. She is a ‘Rotten Tomatoes’ certified critic. Her interviews are called ‘Not Just Bollywood’ because she takes a huge interest in world cinema. She has been the winner of the prestigious Laadli Media and Advertising Award for Gender Sensitivity for two consecutive years, 2020 and 2021. OTT over theatrical releases is her preference unless and until it’s a King Khan film. She takes interest in fashion, food and art reviews too.
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