New Delhi: Bollywood films generally revolve around the hero more than the female lead, who exists mostly as arm candy for the hero. However recently, there has been a spate of really successful, really interesting women-centric films with fully fleshed-out female characters who have real desires, ambitions, and flaws. Here are Bollywood films only a fool would ever dare to write these films off as mere chick flicks.
Gangubai Kathiawadi
Starring Alia Bhatt as the eponymous heroine, the Sanjay Leela Bhansali direction is a visual feast for the eyes as it chronicles young Ganga’s meteoric rise from a small-town girl to ‘Gangubai’- a veritable figure of power in Kamathipura, Mumbai while painting an opulent picture of 20th century Mumbai and lives of sex workers. Based on S. Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges’ account of Gangubai in Mafia Queens of Mumbai, the 2022 biographical drama is a strong female-centric Bollywood movie depicting a demure Indian girl’s fight against social stigmas as the ‘empowering, feminist story’ described by the lead actress has been reviewed as an evocative feminist narrative embedded in a commercially successful melodramatic film.
Mardaani
The 2014 action-thriller featuring Rani Mukjeri in the lead role of policewoman Shivani Shivaji Roy, Mardaani is a thrilling narrative revolving around Roy’s stumbling upon human trafficking stints within the Indian mafia while trying to solve the case of kidnapped teenage girl Pyaari. Thoroughly researched with meetings set up with the Crime Branch of the Mumbai Police, Mardaani was well-received critically and commercially as it was hailed for breaking gender stereotypes and depicting a strong female police officer leading the movie. Mukherji’s performance was particularly applauded for balancing the roles of gritty police officer and nurturing foster mother and family woman.
Kahaani
Starring Vidya Balan as the pregnant Vidya Bagchi in search for her missing husband in Kolkata, Kahaani is a highly dramatic and emotional narrative of a woman’s determination and capacities. The woman-centric action film depicts Vidya Balan breaking the typecast role of the helpless damsel in distress as the film chronicles a woman’s fearless fight for justice and vengeance while delving into themes of feminism and motherhood in a patriarchal society. The film won several accolades including best screenplay, best editing and a special jury award in the 60th National Film Awards.
English Vinglish
Directed by Gauri Shinde, English Vinglish is a heartwarming and empowering tale of an Indian mother on the journey to reclaiming her selfhood. Starring late veteran actress Sridevi as the Indian homemaker Shashi, the film delves into the hardships posed by linguistic barriers in personal as well as social lives and the freedom gained by education and independence. Inspired by Shinde’s own life experiences with her mother, the film shatters the shackles of conformity imposed on Indian women and homemakers as the film and Sridevi’s performance were unanimously commended and well-received.
Mary Kom
The 2014 biographical sports drama stars Priyanka Chopra as the eponymous boxer as it recounts Mary Kom’s life journey from the daughter of a rice farmer in Manipur to India’s most famous female boxer. Ranking among the highest-grossing Indian films led by an actress in a lead role, Mary Kom captures the spirit of a sportswoman through Chopra’s uninhibited portrayal as the biopic centres around a woman’s journey towards her goals and smashing obstacles and stereotypes. Despite some controversy surrounding Chopra being cast to play a Manipuri woman, the actress’ performance was nevertheless widely commended, while the movie was deemed as a “worthy attempt…ticking off milestones” (Anupama Chopra) of the renowned boxer’s career.
Thappad
Starring Tapsee Pannu in the lead role of Amrita Sandhu, Thappad tackles the sensitive issue of domestic violence in Indian society with great austerity and straightforwardness. Reviewed as an “important social drama” questioning the unsaid rules of marriage, the film is not just a social commentary on the socio-emotional impact of domestic violence but also a larger panorama into the treatment of women within the legal frame of marriage and the overwhelming social conditioning subjected on women by the patriarchal society. Tapsee Pannu was particularly commended for her transformative performance from the submissive wife to the no-nonsense woman demanding for her rights.
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