Impotent Males: Problematizing The Discourse on Male Sexual Dysfunction in Malayalam Cinema

Abstract

Despite being fundamentally a medical condition, male sexual dysfunction manifests as a construct of 'disability' within diverse socio-cultural power structures. The medium of cinema assumes a pivotal role in shaping this social construction, necessitating a nuanced exploration of the dialogic relationship between male sexual dysfunction and film within the domain of disability studies. Malayalam cinema, as a representative case, has consistently marginalised the agency of men grappling with erectile dysfunction. The initial perpetuation of this marginalisation stemmed from the condition's lack of visibility, but subsequently, the influence of opposing forces compelled Malayalam cinema to bring this issue to the forefront. This scholarly inquiry seeks to unravel the hegemonic discourses inherent in the visibility of male sexual dysfunction within the theoretical frameworks of disability studies and cinema studies. The study systematically investigates the emancipatory prospects for men contending with sexual dysfunction who find their agency rejected within the narrative constructs of Malayalam cinema.