New Showbiz

You are here:
Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva

Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva

2022

PG-13

Director

Ayan Mukerji

Runtime

168 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

Synopsis

The story of Shiva – a young man on the brink of an epic love, with a girl named Isha. But their world is turned upside down when Shiva learns that he has a mysterious connection to the Brahmāstra... and a great power within him that he doesn’t understand just yet - the power of Fire.

Where to Watch

Diversity & Representation

Overall Score

3.9/10

Limited


Category Breakdown

LGBTQ+ Representation

Minimal

The film relies on a traditional heteronormative romantic core. The central plot revolves around the heterosexual connection between Shiva and Isha, with no queer subtext or non-cisnormative identities present.

Gender Representation

Fair

Isha serves as an active participant in the supernatural journey rather than a mere catalyst. While she possesses agency, the film maintains conventional romantic dynamics and traditional gender hierarchies.

Racial & Ethnic Diversity

Good

The story centers on Indian Vedic elements and non-Western mythology. It achieves high cultural specificity through its mythological framework, though elemental identities are expressed via supernatural powers.

Religious & Cultural Diversity

Fair

The narrative focuses on protecting sacred traditions and ancient knowledge. It emphasizes a cosmic struggle between light and darkness within a structured, traditional moral framework.

Disability Representation

Limited

Characters are defined by their elemental powers rather than lived experiences with disability. There is no significant focus on neurodivergence, physical disabilities, or chronic illness.

Strengths

  • The film provides high cultural specificity by centering Indian Vedic mythology.
  • The female lead, Isha, is an active participant with agency in the supernatural quest.
  • The 'Astraverse' offers a unique, non-Western mythological framework for storytelling.

Areas for Improvement

  • The narrative lacks LGBTQ+ representation and queer subtext.
  • There is no significant focus on neurodivergence or physical disabilities.
  • The romantic dynamics follow conventional, traditional gender hierarchies.

AI Analysis

Brahmāstra Part One: Shiva is a mythological epic that prioritizes world-building and traditional romantic storytelling over social deconstruction. It succeeds in centering non-Western mythology, providing a culturally specific foundation that moves away from Western-centric narrative tropes. However, the film remains within conventional boundaries. The romantic arc is strictly heteronormative, and the characterizations lean toward traditional archetypes. While the female lead is granted agency, the film does not actively challenge established social hierarchies or integrate intersectional identities. Ultimately, the production focuses on destiny and elemental magic. It offers a rich cultural spectacle but lacks meaningful representation for LGBTQ+ individuals or characters with disabilities.

How are these scores produced? →

Similar Movies

Movie poster for Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan

2018

No user ratings available yet
Diversity score: 4.9 out of 10
Movie poster for Legend of Sudsakorn

Legend of Sudsakorn

2006

No user ratings available yet
No diversity score available

Rate this Movie

No rating selected
Use arrow keys to select a rating from 1 to 5 stars
Optional text review, maximum 2000 characters
Tip: Wrap spoilers with ||double pipes|| to hide them
0/2000 characters
You must be signed in to submit a rating

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts on this movie!

Use the rating form above to leave a star rating and optional review.