Stories centering on women and their lives are just as important as any other genre of films, the last few years have changed the game when it comes to women-led cinema and we have been blessed with many authentic and revolutionary movies. Maithili Bachani lists 7 women-led movies that created an impact.
Jigra
Jigra is a heartfelt and emotional movie about a brother being wrongly imprisoned for a crime with a death sentence in a foreign country, and his sister saving him at any cost. This movie starring Alia Bhatt and Vedang Raina was a refreshing new gender twisting take on ‘the protector’. It was empowering to see a female character fight to defend his honour, and take extreme measures breaking all stereotypes.
Mrs.
Mrs is a hindi remake of the malayalam film starring Sanya Malhotra and Nishant Dahiya; it is about a woman who is married into a patriarchal household where she’s held back with household duties and goes unrecognized. The movie touches upon some pivotal concepts about women and their place in society, and the portrayal of quiet frustration that boils beneath all the oppression.
All We Imagine As Light
All We Imagine As Light is a story about two nurses sharing an apartment in Mumbai and navigating their life with emotional and social struggle, starring Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam, and Hridhu Haroon. The film highlights the shared loneliness of women in a bustling city and how a female friendship provides emotional tools to survive a patriarchal society.
Laapata Ladies
Laapata Ladies is a comforting movie about women’s role in society, hope and love; two newlywed brides get exchanged by accident and try to find their way back while experiencing a new understanding of life. Starring Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta and Sparsh Shrivastava, this new coming of age movie explored many facets of women’s identity in the most wholesome way.
Do Patti
Do Patti is a thriller starring Kajol, Kriti Sanon and Shaheer Sheik where a female inspector suspects two complicated twin sisters for an attempted murder and solves the case of lies and deceit. The women in this movie were strong, flawed and human. Unlike the typical narrative of society where we hold women to impossible standards and not let them falter, Do Patti was a distinctive new lens.
Vedaa
Vedaa is a movie about dalit student turned boxer fueled by a personal tragedy, starring Sharvari Wagh and John Abraham this movie captured the spirit of fighting back and harnessing strength from within. From a vulnerable student to a determined fighter, Sharvari was a delight in this film as she portrayed the true essence of an underdog as the oppressed gender and caste.
Maa
Maa is a movie about a mother confronting a demonic curse that needs the sacrifice of her daughter in order to save all the girls of the town. This horror film stars Kajol in her fierce new look as a mother mirroring a scorned hero who will rise to the occasion to beat all the odds, and save everyone. It reflects the role of a mother in society and transcends beyond the bounds of a woman’s capability.