Bollywood films have long captivated audiences with their extravagant personalities, catchy soundtracks, and dramatic storylines. The stereotype of women in Indian cinema, on the other hand, is nothing new; women are frequently reduced to supporting roles that are only there to provide appearances during the hero’s trip. Fortunately, things are shifting, and a revolution in the Indian films industry is about to happen, driven by strong, independent female protagonists who want to redefine what it means to be a woman on and off screen.
There has been a recent surge in female-focused films that are breaking box office records. These leading actresses are shattering antiquated notions of what a female character in films should be because of their powerful and poignant screenplays; they are no longer damsels in distress waiting for Prince Charming to come to their rescue with a kiss. Rather, they are fully realized heroes who, like the rest of us, struggle, grow, learn from their mistakes, fall, and then rise above it all to triumph in the end.
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Bollywood Films :
Queen (2013)
The role of Rani, a soft-spoken woman whose so-called perfect wedding goes apart when her fiancé dumps her the day before their wedding, is brilliantly played by an animated Kangana Ranaut. After a day of being cooped up in her room, Rani decides to take matters into her own hands and sets out on the honeymoon vacation to Paris and Amsterdam that is intended just for her and the groom. Her bewildered and naive parents attempt to make things right. Through all of the joyful experiences that Paris has to offer without a husband by her side, the films follows this transformed protagonist as she explores her freedom and comes to the realization that she does not need a guy to have time for her.
English Vinglish (2012)
Sridevi plays a devoted mother, wife, and housewife in English Vinglish, who is ashamed of her poor English language skills. Although her husband and kids are the center of her life as Shashi, she feels inadequate since they often make fun of her poor English. She receives the opportunity to covertly enroll in an English language course in anticipation of making a toast and surprising everyone at her niece’s wedding when she travels to New York alone for the first time. She feels more independent and starts to see the world and herself differently as she gets better at the language.English Vinglish, which was sensitively and elegantly filmed, demonstrates how learning a language can make a frightened woman feel confident.
Kahaani (2012)
Bollywood has always been known for its extravagant thrillers, but every now and then one of its well-crafted stories would leave the audience on the edge of their seats with superb performances and tension. In Kahaani, the terrifying tale of Vidya Bagchi—a pregnant lady going about Kolkata looking for her husband—during the city’s annual and fortunate Durga Puja holiday is told. Vidya Balan brilliantly handles the story as new plot twists emerge at every turn, giving life to Vidya’s portrayal. In addition to Sujoy Ghosh’s engrossing narration, the films explores themes of a mother’s tenacity and the lengths she will go to in order to safeguard her unborn child. All in all, it creates a maze full of red herrings that, inexplicably, come together in a gratifying finale.
Raazi (2018)
A gripping spy thriller that details actual events from the 1971 Indo-Pakistan War, Following Sehmat, an Indian woman married off to a Pakistani family, is Raazi. Sehmat is entrusted with gathering and transferring confidential material from within Pakistan. He was trained as an undercover agent by India’s intelligence organization, RAW. As the young lady willing to risk her life to carry out her national duty, Alia Bhatt—the queen of strong female roles—succeeds magnificently. As this relevant tale unfolds amid the politics of two nations, Meghna Gulzar’s superb director delivers both visually captivating cinematography and crisp storytelling. Raazi draws attention to the unsung heroes among Indian spies—the brave women spies whose acts of valor altered history. She also underscores the sacrifices that these agents made that are often forgotten.
Highway (2014)
In this gripping thriller of tragedy, bravery, and self-discovery, Veera and her fiancé are abducted from a gas station off the highway and put into the back of a speeding truck. Her encounter with the enigmatic Mahabir, her kidnapper and torturer, causes her to have startling epiphanies on her own unfulfilled life and mental state. Alia Bhatt plays a beautiful, strong, broken woman who has been broken by abuse and violence but is desperate to reclaim her piece in Imtiaz Ali’s films Highway, which vividly and accurately depicts modern India. Much of the films was filmed on actual roadways, and it effectively conveys the country’s vivid colors and chaos in a way that serves as a metaphor for recovery and spiritual development.
Neerja (2016)
This biographical film centers on the remarkable bravery of Neerja Bhanot, the head purser of Pan Am Flight 73 that was hijacked by terrorists in 1986. Bhanot was shot and killed at the age of 22, but her heroic deed saved many lives. In spite of her youth, Sonam Kapoor’s compassionate and mature title character keeps her cool and deftly bargains with the terrorists to save the passengers in her care. This performance elicits strong empathy from the audience. In addition to describing the atrocities of the incident and the sorrow Neerja’s family endured, the films honors Neerja for her bravery and unselfish bravery in the face of peril. Overall, Neerja sheds light on the little-known tale of an overlooked female hero.
Mary Kom (2014)
The amazing life story of Indian boxing champion and Olympic medalist Mary Kom is told in the inspirational sports biopic Mary Kom. The films follows Mary’s journey from her modest and hardworking upbringing in a remote Manipur town to her numerous victories in the ring despite all odds. Mary went on to become one of the finest female athletes and represented her nation all over the world. We see Mary as she trains for the world tournament—first as a stubborn and defiant adolescent, and then as a powerful wife and mother. This sports biopic is full with drama, emotion, subtle comedy, and thrilling boxing scenes, much like any other.
Mardaani (2014)
Rani Mukherji plays a daring police officer searching for a vicious human trafficking kingpin in this gritty crime drama. Her performance breaks preconceptions and is so highly appreciated that it shatters glass ceilings. The beginning of Mardaani features a string of horrifying abductions and killings of young girls, causing turmoil throughout Delhi. In the end, Senior Inspector Shivani Shivaji Roy solves a case that has left the male-dominated police department dumbfounded and powerless. She steps forward to find the offender. What follows is an engrossing game of cat and mouse that has action scenes that defy convention and are chock-full of plot twists, suspense, and the murky realm of child trafficking.
Thappad (2020)
An educated, intelligent, upper-middle-class woman named Amrita has an apparently perfect married life until her husband Vikram touches her during an argument. Thappad is an impactful drama that explores the long-term effects of domestic violence in a graceful yet hard-hitting manner. Amrita and Vikram’s relationship is put to the test as what starts out as a small event turns into an existential crisis. In the case of love, how far is too far? The films explores a wide range of emotions while being both frightening and thought-provoking. It thoroughly examines the problems of patriarchy, gender roles, and a culture that tolerates violence against women in a realistic setting.
Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)
The incredible story of Gangubai, who rose to prominence as one of the most influential, adored, and respected madams in Kamathipura, Mumbai’s red light district, in the 1960s, is told in this epic biographical drama by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Gangubai, who was sold into prostitution at a very young age, uses tragedy as an opportunity to become a powerful social worker and matriarch. The protagonist of Gangubai Kathiawadi starts off as an innocent youngster and develops into a strong leader who stands up to the local politicians and criminality while defending the rights of sex workers. The films, which features yet another brilliant performance from Alia Bhatt, depicts the protagonist’s unwavering will against the backdrop of Mumbai’s significant social and economic transformation. It’s a films that will undoubtedly stick in your memory—a significant release at a timely moment.
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