Table of Contents
Representation of women in Bollywood
Feminism is something I feel very strongly about. Yes, it is true that Bollywood exists for entertainment but you can not deny the fact that the way women are represented in movies has an impact on the society. Has there been a shift in the way women are portrayed? Yes. Does Bollywood need to do more? Of course yes.
What can done to make this shift is a long discussion. You can see this discussion conducted by Anupama Chopra with Vidya Balan, Reema Kagti, Aparna Purohit, Priya Seth, Neeraj Ghaywan, Vikram Malhotra, Kanika Dhillon, and Tamannaah Bhatia where they are discussing the same.
My Top 10 List
Taapsee Pannu in an interview once said that she wants to do a movie where she is hero from the first frame and not begin with being abla naari who later unleashes her naari shakti. I totally resonate with that. So in this list, I am going to try and stay away from such story lines and focus on movies that show all the shades of women. Let’s begin.
1. Tumhari Sulu
I love every bit of this movie. The first thing I did after watching this movie was call my mom ask her to watch it because Sulu reminded me of her. Just because of this, I can say it is one of the most realistic portrayal of Indian housewife. So if want to see story of an ambitious and unapologetic housewife, watch this film.
2. Raazi
Did you know Raazi is part of 100 crore club? This spy thriller action set during the Indo-Pak war of 1971 kept me hooked from first frame to the last.
3. Jalsa
This Vidya Balan and Shefali Shah starrer questions divide between rich and poor. This movie make a splash when it came out but I loved watching it.
4. Dor
A movie is about not one but two female leads, Zeenat (Gul Panag) and Meera (Ayesha Takia) who come from very different backgrounds and how fate brings them together. Did Zeenat befriend Meera out of fondness or did she have an alternative motive?
5. Queen
This movie is a breath of fresh air. For me, Queen will always be about how much difference can travelling bring to ones life.
6. Kahaani
Are you even surprised that this is third Vidya Balan movie to feature in this list?
Both Kahaani one and two are amazing thrillers that will kept me on the edge till the very end.
7. Lipstick Under My Burkha
Ratna Pathak Shah, Konkana Sen Sharma, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur. Stellar starcast and four amazing stories about women.
8. NH 10
An action packed thriller starring Anushka Sharma is a rollercoaster. The only difference is rollercoaster does not slow down.
9. Nil Battey Sannata
My family has always emphasised on importance of education. Even when you have nothing, education and sincere hard work can help you turn around your life and this movie is exactly about that. Also watch it for spectacular acting by Swara Bharker and Ratna Pathak Shah.
10. Gangubai Kathiawadi
This list can not be complete without this movie. Another Alia Bhat starrer that is also part of 100 crore club, a Sanjay Leela Bhansali spectacle that needs to be watched and a story that needs to be heard. Watch this movie about a badass woman to be dazzled and inspired.
