Media and Gender: Strong Female Characters from Bollywood Movies

Bollywood had an era of female protagonists who were there to be wooed and won like a trophy by the male characters. Nevertheless, some movies challenged the generic crafting of the female lead and redefined their position in the films by putting them at the centre with a strong temperament and personality. These characters smashed the stereotypes that most of the movies helped establish and brought diversity and variety to the portrayal of the female lead.

The post is dedicated to some of the female protagonists from recent years who brought a new perspective to demonstrate women in the cinema.

Here Are Some Strong Female Characters From Bollywood Movies-

1. Gangubai Khatiawadi (Gangubai) – Alia Bhatt

Forced into prostitution when her boyfriend sold her for money, Gangubai shows us the realities of life in the areas we consider to be impure. Appearing to be straight out of Manto’s stories, the movie displays Gangubai’s journey as she becomes the face and authority of other prostitutes in her brothel. Witty and bold- Gangubai knows how to get things done. However, the moral compass attached to her personality makes her character even better. She has values, hates injustice, and acknowledges dignity as essential to every human. 

2. Shashi (English Vinglish) – Sridevi

Although Sridevi has several characters that are testimonials of her talent, Shashi is one of the most memorable ones as Sridevi returned to the big screen after a 15-year hiatus. It is also her penultimate film before her untimely demise. Shashi shows the story of every Indian mother. Doing everything in her power to keep her family happy and content, Shashi realises how undervalued her efforts are once she enrols in an English class on a trip to the US. As Shashi rediscovers herself in this transformative journey, she becomes confident, bold, and assertive while staying connected with her family and loved ones. 

3. Amrita (Thappad)- Taapsee Pannu 

A slap- what can that change? Thappad shows Amrita’s journey to taking control of her life once again as she realises how devoted and committed she is to her husband and married life once he slaps her in front of everyone at the party. Her husband had a job contract abroad, but at the last minute, the boss threw some tricks and took the job from him.

The movie clearly shows the power dynamics as Amrita’s husband slaps her when she tries to stop him from fighting with the boss. He does not feel any kind of guilt or remorse when the family tells Amrita- it’s just a slap, get over it. Her illusions crumble like a house of cards, and Amrita suddenly realises the life that she had wasted for a man who does not even think of her as his equal. Amrita’s story is simple and ordinary- it can be any married woman so in life that she forgets the cage she is in. However, Amrita decides to break free and take the reins in her hand. 

4. Piku (Piku) – Deepika Padukone

Society expects a son to take care of the parents once they grow old. It is also why people consider daughters a burden, as they will go to their husbands’ houses and serve their in-laws in a traditional setting. Piku shows how women, especially unmarried women with whom a stigma is connected in Indian society, can also take care of their parents. The gender roles that we have been tied to since childhood can be broken, and Piku smashes many of them. 

5. Sehmat (Raazi) – Alia Bhatt

Another brilliant female protagonist played by Alia, Sehmat shows us the nuances of morality and one’s duties. She is deeply committed to her country so she sacrifices everything dear to her and becomes a spy for India as she is married to the son of a Lieutenant in Pakistan. Serving the role of a daughter of both her father and the nation, Sehmat becomes a courageous and ingenious spy who hides beneath the shadows in her husband’s home.

However, towards the end, as she sees innocent people being killed because of the mission that she helped proceed, Sehmat is left perplexed and in a moral dilemma, forcing her to rethink the consequences of her action. In one of the scenes, she tells Mir that she wants to go back home before she becomes like them. Sehmat knows the value of humanity and being human, and her moral conflicts bring nuance to things like spying enmity and love, which are often understood to be one-dimensional. 

6. Rani (Queen) – Kangana Ranaut

Getting rejected after engagement is a big taboo in our society, especially if the rejected person is a girl. Today, divorce and rejection have become more acceptable than before, but even now, families are scared of their daughter’s future because of these incidents. Queen follows the story of a girl whose fiance leaves her just before the wedding. She is devastated and finds it hard to pull herself together. Rani decides to go abroad on her honeymoon alone and rediscover herself after the tragic event in her life. She decides to give herself another chance and not limit her existence to just being someone else’s wife. 

Conclusion-

So, these were some of the movies with strong female characters. These films capture the journey to finding oneself in different aspects of life- marriage, career, love life, rejection, abuse, and mental health. The diverse approaches in recent years have expanded the scope of movies with strong female characters. Which one of these movies did you like the most?

Also Checkout – Top 6 Bollywood Films That Broke Stereotypes