Mirzapur's portrayal of women: agency masked by male gaze

The gangster franchise Mirzapur presents female characters with agency and moral nuance, allowing them to survive and navigate a criminal underworld. However, critics argue the series ultimately views these women through a lens of male power and voyeurism.

While the show grants female characters the ability to strategise and manipulate within the narrative, they remain confined within male-dominated spaces rather than wielding independent authority. Their sexuality and trauma are rendered as entertainment for viewers, reinforcing traditional hierarchies beneath a veneer of empowerment.