Have you ever sympathized with a character on the screen? Or get inspired by it? I am sure it happens to most. Such is the power of the silver screen.
Bollywood, despite its plethora of characters of various shades through the decades, has seldom shown females in powerful roles barring a few classics. At a time when feminism is the talk of the town, let’s have a look at some of the contemporary films with strong female characters who will definitely evoke the female prowess in you.
Udta Punjab
A black comedy crime film released in 2016, Udta Punjab focuses on the issue of drug abuse among the youth in Punjab and the various conspiracies associated with it. The striking character of Alia Bhatt, a young impoverished migrant from Bihar stuck a chord with many. It may be one of the best performances in her entire career up till now.
An abused drug addict, Alia’s character, who yearns for freedom despite many tortures, shows a true story of survival. Even though a victim, she does not sit helplessly shedding tears. She is a true fighter who rebels till the very end. In contrast to her glamorous avatars, have a look at how Alia prepared for this challenging role here.
English Vinglish
An empowering story of an Indian housewife/entrepreneur directed by a female director Gauri Shinde, English Vinglish (2012) marked the comeback of the actress Sridevi on the silver screen after 15 years.
A homemaker with a local business, Sridevi is often mocked by her husband and daughter for her inability to converse in English fluently. In this journey of self-discovery, Sridevi finally learns the language and gains all-new confidence, putting her husband and daughter at shame for treating her with mockery.
This film is an inspiration to such an extent that you will feel like Sridevi’s achievement as she delivers a flawless speech in English at the climax of the movie.
Tumhari Sulu
This 2017 comedy-drama about a suburban Mumbai housewife, Sulu, played by the female icon Vidya Balan is the story of every middle-class person out there. Especially married women. In an attempt to put her family first, most married women tend to lose themselves in the process. They often compromise their dreams and ambitions to a great extent. This film by director Suresh Triveni is an ode to them all.
Vidya Balan as Sulu has no noteworthy achievement compared to her sisters and is often picked at for that. But her life transforms magically as she turns an RJ for a relationship advice show, that too at night. Watch this film to see how the seldom appreciated homemaker juggles her family’s priority with her own ambitions.
Piku
It is not only female characters in a film who can talk about feminism. And this 2015 Soojit Sircar film starring Deepika Padukone and Amitabh Bachchan proves just that!
Piku shuns the stereotypical concepts of society as we see a father with a very strong opinion on women’s liberty. Piku engages in no strings attached relationships and is not judged for that. She is the sole caretaker of her father and is extremely efficient at that. In addition, Piku, being in her 30’s is not pestered for marriage by her family.
Can there be a story more inspiring than this for all the women out there?
Also read:
I Am 28. Single. And I Am NOT Miserable
Thappad
The heart-wrenching sound of the slap echoed through the room full of guests gave me goosebumps when I watched it for the first time!
The latest addition to the list of Bollywood feminist movies is this Anubhav Sinha directed 2020 drama Thappad starring the powerful Taapsee Pannu. What makes the film remarkable is the sensitivity with which the screenplay portrays not one but the struggles of many women at the same time. The film points out the atrocity of the society which forces the wife to ‘accept and compromise’ the Thappad or slap by the ‘good’ husband. And when she refuses to do so, she is haggled and compelled to give in to accusations.
A movie that will have you altering several perceptions, Thappad is a must-watch for everyone out there who still does not accept the need for feminism in a society like ours.
What’s your favorite feminist Bollywood movie that inspires and motivates you every time?