The portrayal of female sexuality in Indian Cinema has evolved; exploring the concept of desire and eroticism across multiple dimensions. The gradual shift was first noticed in the 1960s and 70s with songs such as ‘Aaja Piya Tohe Pyaar Dun’ (Baharon Ke Sapne, 1967) & ‘Baahon Mein Chale Aa’ (Anamika, 1973), where a female voice makes suggestions to offer sexual comfort. Vastly different from the previous depictions of the female character’s often rejecting sexual advances to stand true to the ‘Abla Nari’ (helpless woman) trope.
In the early 2000s ‘Zara Zara’ (Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein) constantly expresses the female characters’ fantasies, where the desire belongs solely to the woman.Breaking away from the tabooed view of sex and female sexuality, the following subtle depictions helped pave the way for more profound and nuanced portrayals on screen.
Source: The Evolution Of Female Sexuality & Desire In Indian Cinema – Homegrown