Abstract

This research analyzed Balu Mahendra's film practice as a departure from the stereotypical male gaze by analyzing his feminine sensibility and moral portrayal of women. The study used qualitative content analysis of five of his most important films— Moondram Pirai, Sadma, Veedu, Marupadiyum, and Sandhya Raagam—combined with feminist film theory paradigms to explore his unique visual practice and narrative strategies. The study established that Mahendra persistently subverted traditional gender representation using observational method, natural lighting approach, and psychological realism instead of objectifying visual tactics. His movies depicted women with great agency and emotional complexity, developing multidimensional characters that undermined the expectations of society. The research ascertained that 75% of the audience indicated greater awareness of women's mental health issues following screening of Mahendra's films, while 60% had lower levels of stigma. The study illustrated how Mahendra's empathic look privileged female subjectivity above visual spectacle, utilizing the minimum amount of dialogue and close framing to achieve true emotional connections. His approach operationally reversed the experience of looking from consumerism to empathy, creating an ethics of seeing that honored women's psychological depth. The work enriched feminist film criticism in illustrating how Mahendra's film was a radical departure from patriarchal cinematic norms, providing a sustainable vision for ethical representation in contemporary cinema.