Kadubai

Brian presents Kadubai online.

Kadubai: The Documentary Film and Dalit Identity

Dr. Brian Mendonça

Abstract

In terms of Dalit resistance in contemporary India there has not been an example where a Dalit woman has tried to transform the social landscape through her songs. Kadubai has been doing just that. Hailing from Aurangabad, Maharashtra she plucks her ektara and sings in the villages about Dalit issues to support her daughters. In the tradition of the medieval saints, and the bhakti poets, she sings with an abandon which is rousing as well as reflective.

Omey Anand and Nijaat Collective made a documentary on her life and named it Kadubai (2024). The film was released on YouTube in December and has seen a lot of traction on social media. Her Bhimgeet went viral with song recorders lining up to cash in on her new-found popularity.

 But does the hype obscure the intention for which the film was made? This paper will examine the phenomenon of Kadubai and probe the role of a documentary in projecting her to a dubious stardom. It will also analyze how Kadubai is like an example of  parallel cinema and presents a subject which mainstream films fight shy of.

 This paper will look at the space where film, society, and culture intersect and offer routes for discussion towards a society more imbued with equity.

 Keywords: Kadubai, Documentary, Dalit

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National Multi-disciplinary Conference on ‘Cinematic Horizons: Film, Society, and Culture. Government First Grade Women’s College, Shivamogga, Karnataka. 25 April 2025. Photo taken by Brian Mendonca on 25 April 2025.