Bollywood has often been criticised for its objectification of women. While that claim holds water to a large extent, it is not entirely correct. Every once in a while, Bollywood produces some amazing women oriented movies which not only have progressive portrayals of women, they are also huge hits. Unlike typical Bollywood fare, these movies have stayed in the audiences’ hearts for years and years. This issue, Corporate Citizen presents the best women oriented movies in Bollywood history
A 1957 Hindi epic melodrama film, directed by Mehboob Khan, Mother India is one film that comes to every mind when thinking of top women-oriented films of all time. It starred Nargis as the titular Mother India, a scrupulous leader who put her principles before anything else. India’s official nomination at the Oscar’s that year, this socially-relevant film was much ahead of its times and an epic classic. It made a powerful impact, representing India in the aftermath of her independence, reinforcing the internal strength of a woman who rises like the Phoenix from the ashes of circumstances. This portrayal essayed by Nargis with the consummate ease of a veteran, is a benchmark role. Mother India was the most expensive Hindi cinema production in 1957 and earned the highest revenue for any Hindi film at that time. Mother India deserves its place amongst the all time great films in Bollywood.
If you thought it was a thing of the past when uneducated women were married off to educated men, just so they could take care of the household and children, think again. These situations are still relevant to today’s times, if not in a large number. In English Vinglish, we see how a loving and caring mother/ wife is mocked (albeit unintentionally) by her family for her lack of understanding a particular language. Throughout the movie, we see how she overcomes her fears, stands up for herself and learns to love who she is, apart from being a mother and wife. Watch it for Sridevi turning in the performance of a lifetime.
Clad in pink sarees and armed with lathis, a group of women march with shoulders broad and heads held high against injustice. Gulaab Gang is a movie about fighting against the subjugation of women and this is achieved when the women of a small village come together as one. This movie is all about women empowerment and how politics plays a big role in Indian culture. Based on a true story, Gulab Gang is a testament to the fact that it is not just urban women, but rural women too who are equally empowered.
Chak De India is a film, which is hard to classify into a single genre. It explores religious bigotry, ethnic and regional prejudice and sexism in contemporary India in a fictional story about the Indian women's national field-hockey team which was inspired by the team's win at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. Despite starring superstar Shahrukh Khan, it’s the female star cast which composes the hockey team that steals the show. Every single member of the hockey team is essayed with perfection and it translates beautifully on screen. None of these women are famous names, yet they are the one’s responsible for the movie’s success. With Chak De India, women centric movies have come of age.
by Neeraj Varty
