You are here:

Calendar Girls

Name: Calendar Girls
Director: Madhur Bhandarkar
Released: 2015
Duration: 131 min

Representation Score

8.1/10

Excellent

2015

Not Rated

Director

Madhur Bhandarkar

Runtime

131 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Calendar Girls succeeds as a study of the way different parts of someone's identity overlap within a professional framework. Its primary strength lies in its commitment to a multi-regional cast, which provides a nuanced lens on India's demographic complexity. By centering the plot on female camaraderie and competition, the film effectively challenges traditional gender roles. However, the film remains limited in its social scope. It lacks visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities and does not address disability, leaving these significant demographic areas unexamined. The narrative also appears heavily tied to commercial structures, which may limit its critique of cultural commodification. Ultimately, the film offers a sophisticated look at regional diversity and women's ability to drive the story, even if it stops short of radical social deconstruction.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Calendar Girls have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film does not explicitly engage with LGBTQ+ narratives or non-cisgender identities. There is no visible representation of same-sex intimacy.

How does Calendar Girls portray gender?

Good

The story centers on women's ability to drive the story by placing five women at the heart of a high-stakes professional endeavor. This disrupts conventional hierarchies that typically prioritize male protagonists in similar settings.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Calendar Girls?

Excellent

A high degree of internal diversity is achieved through a multi-ethnic cast of protagonists. By selecting women from different regions of India, the film avoids a monolithic view of national identity.

How does Calendar Girls represent religion and culture?

Fair

The narrative explores the tension between corporate capitalism and individual identity. It balances commercial structures with personal journeys, though it offers limited insight into specific religious or cultural themes.

Does Calendar Girls include disability representation?

Fair

There is no mention of characters navigating physical, sensory, or neurodivergent disabilities. The film maintains a neutral baseline regarding disability-centric narratives or plot devices.

Present on Screen

The film features a diverse, multi-ethnic cast representing various regions of India.
It centers women's ability to drive the story and professional ambition, challenging traditional male-dominated cinematic hierarchies.
The narrative provides a nuanced, non-monolithic view of Indian identity through regional character construction.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks visible representation of LGBTQ+ identities or queer narratives.
There is no engagement with characters navigating physical, sensory, or neurodivergent disabilities.
The focus on corporate capitalism may overshadow deeper explorations of religious or cultural themes.

Official Synopsis

The film focuses on five girls who hail from different regions of India, and who have been selected to pose for the country's most prestigious annual calendar which is a joint effort between business tycoon Rishabh Kukreja and his photographer friend Timmy Sen.

How are these scores produced? →