We love dancing to them, but are we also complicit in the male gaze? In this episode, host Kriti J is joined by longtime friend and fellow Bollywood nerd Shruti S to unpack the complicated world of item numbers - the seductive, high-energy songs Bollywood can’t seem to quit.

Together, they create the Dirty Brown Test — a feminist lens for evaluating whether item songs like Choli Ke Peeche, Oo Antava, and Sheila Ki Jawani are empowering or just... problematic. Spoiler: the answers aren’t as obvious as you think. Tune in for hot takes, cultural commentary, and some serious Katrina Kaif appreciation.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro to episode

01:34 Introduction to Item Numbers in Bollywood

02:22 Defining Feminism in Item Numbers

04:08 The Dirty Brown Test: Evaluating Item Numbers

06:51 Choli ke peeche - A feminist perspective

12:18 Ooh Antava: A Contrast in Representation

20:43 Sheila ki jawani - Duality of empowerment and objectification

25:14 The role of female choreographers

27:58 Item numbers are here to stay. So, what now?

About Our Clips - We use short excerpts from various media in this episode for discussion, review, and commentary, consistent with fair use guidelines.

Official song videos - Choli ke peeche, Sheila ki jawani, Ooo antava

Music by - Kamalesh Siddu, Mykola Odnoroh from Pixabay

Instagram: ⁠@_dirtybrown_