Crimes or violence against women make headlines almost every day and an innumerable number of such cases go unreported. Violence can be in several forms such as rape, domestic violence, abuse, discrimination and neglect. Instances of violence happen not only at work place but also at home. Violence against women is a major public health problem and a violation of women's human rights. This study is an effort to describe the type of abuse and mental trauma a woman undergoes through in an Indian society. Such stressful activities also sometimes make women take drastic steps as evident in this analysis.

The text taken for analysis is ‘Bandit Queen’ by Shekhar Kapur, a real-life story of Phoolan Devi, who belongs to a lower caste and faces sexual abuse and discrimination. A turn of events leads her to become the revered leader of a gang. She then comes back to take revenge against her oppressors. Bandit Queen describes the life of north Indian women who experience exploitation in the name of caste and sex. The film talks about violence and its impact on women’s psychology. It also depicts to what extent a woman can go when she undergoes extreme abuse. Although the people see her as a dacoit, she is actually fighting for her freedom and to achieve that, she is even willing to take the wrong path if necessary. Several women fight violence and abuse in silence and only a handful of cases are reported owing to the shame and guilt a woman has to undergo that is established in a patriarchal society.    

Key words: abuse, Bandit Queen, discrimination, Phoolan Devi, violence