This article shows that Indian films do more than depict violence against women; they eroticize such violence and ask male viewers to identify with heroes who use force to win the affections of their beloveds. Interviews with Indian men reveal parallels between men's understanding of ideal relationships between husbands and wives and the ideals presented in Hindi films. Participant observation in theaters shows that the usually male-dominated space of cinema halls is an arena for the male sexual harassment that films show as generating women's affections. Hence, popular films play a role in generating sexual violence in India.
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