The Burden of Color: Gender-Based Violence Against Older Widow Women in The Last Color (2019)

Gender-based violence against older widowed women in India is a persistent societal issue, often marked by stigmatisation, isolation, and deprivation of basic rights. Vikas Khanna’s film The Last Color poignantly explores this theme, focusing on Noor, an older widow confined by patriarchal customs, and her friendship with Chhoti, a young Dalit girl who represents defiance against oppressive traditions. Through Noor’s restricted life in a widow’s ashram in Banaras and her interactions with Chhoti, the film highlights the gendered violence and discrimination widows endure, such as being forbidden from wearing colours, participating in celebrations, and living with dignity. The film also draws attention to the systemic failures that have marginalised widows for centuries, portraying patriarchal attitudes not only in social practices but also in the aggressive behaviour of male characters.

By analysing The Last Color, this paper discusses the historical and cultural roots of widowhood discrimination in India, the symbolic significance of color as a tool for liberation in the film and the relationship formed between the two oppressive women, regardless of their age differences. The paper will also delve into understanding how Noor’s story reflects a broader struggle for identity and respect among India’s 40 million widows, suggesting the need for further societal change and how the narrative reinforces the potential for resilience, empathy, and change in a society where gender-based oppression has remained entrenched. This analysis attempts to underscore the film’s role as both a critique of past injustices and a celebration of courage in the face of systemic marginalisation.

Keywords: Gender-based violence, widowhood, aged female, Hindi films

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