Taapsee Pannu's Pink, Kangana Ranaut's Queen, Sonam Kapoor's Neerja - 7 recent movies that celebrate the power of women!

By Sreeju Sudhakaran
Published: September 18, 2016 12:30 PM IST

In an industry whose movies are often accused of making its male actors the all powerful figure, while the ladies are asked to flutter their eyelashes, show off their curves and play damsels in distress, movies that celebrate the right spirit of womanhood should themselves be celebrated. Also Read - Kalki 2898 AD: Will Prabhas, Nag Ashwin's movie clash with this biggie from South?

in 2016, we have been seeing a change in how movies are perceiving their women characters. Sure there is still A Flying Jatt that has its female lead as a daft bimbo, or in Housefull 3 where there are three bimbettes, who are just arm candies to their heroes. But we still have a Neerja (more on this later) or a Jai Gangaajal (where Priyanka Chopra plays the main, never mind Prakash Jha takes one the juiciest role for himself). Also Read - Abhishek Bachchan turns into a protective son and takes care of Amitabh Bachchan as they get mobbed

This week's release, Pink, is about three single women living in New Delhi taking on a group of rich miscreants legally, when the latter tried to sexually assault them. The film stars Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari and Andrea Tariang in the lead, with Angad Bedi playing the bad guy. And of course, there is Amitabh Bachchan who will play their defence lawyer in the film. The hard-hitting trailer had blown our minds away thanks to the strong themes in the film about how society perceives single women who smoke and aren't virgins as, for the lack of a better word, sluts. Also Read - Kaun Banega Crorepati 16: Amitabh Bachchan starts shooting; has no time for a leisure lunch, resorts to eating in the car

Let's look at 7 films that revolve around strong female characters while giving out strong messages of women empowerment.

Pink

PINK is a film that India needs to watch, as it has terrific performances, a good plot, taut direction and a fantastic message. With a rape happening every hour in this country, with victims of sexual assaults being ostracized by the society, here's is a film that achieves to change our perception. 'Cos it's high time that we do it!

Queen

When the groom ditches the bride at the altar, what's the last thing you would expect her to do? Certainly not going for her honeymoon. Alone. However, Kangana Ranaut does just that in Queen, as she leaves for Paris to find the freedom her domineering fiance was denying her for long, and this first step of defiance endeared her to us. Also, we loved that parting shot in the climax, where she returns her engagement ring to her seemingly remorseful fiance, thus throwing away her final nail that bound her to woman-crushing traditions in our country. Kangana Ranaut deservingly won the National Award for the Best Actress in this film.

Neerja

Neerja is not just a true story of how a brave girl took on hijackers and gave her life while saving the passengers. It is also a lesson to those women whose dreams are crushed by their chauvinistic domineering husbands after marriage, and those who are separated from them. Even if society puts the blame on you, girls like Neerja brushes aside those misgivings, move on with their life, and be those unique daughters India can always be proud of.

Piku

Piku is that rare movie, which shows its female protagonist of having no remorse of having a no strings attached relationship with her colleague, while also developing feelings for another man, Above all, it is also a lesson to us that a woman doesn't need a man to take care of the household affairs and survive a career, her independent spirit is enough to take on such challenges.

No One Killed Jessica

No One Killed Jessica might be a fictional take on the Jessica Lal murder case, but it gave us two very strong female characters that we will not forget so soon. Vidya Balan's character is that of the persevering type, who will go to extreme lengths to get justice in a society where guilty can get off the hook if you have money and power in your fist. Rani Mukerji's character, meanwhile, is this high flying reporter, who cares no f**ks about what she says, have no qualms about having one-night stands, and is determined to bring the truth out to the world by any damn means.

English Vinglish

Sridevi's comeback film has her playing a meek housewife to an uncaring husband, her equally uncaring daughter, who don't lose out on opportunities to put her down for her lack of knowledge in English (even when they themselves can't pronounce 'jazz' correctly). When she goes to US to attend her niece's wedding and joins an English speaking course, it's a move that she deems as empowering her own personality, and learning something at an age where everyone thinks it's too late. In the climax when she delivers that still broken yet understandable speech in English at the post wedding ceremony, the shame on her husband and daughter's faces is surely a sweet taste of victory.

Dor

Dor is a moving tale of how one woman, whose husband is implicated in the murder of another man in Gulf, tries to coax the slain man's widow to offer pardon to free her husband. The widow is trapped in the confinements of her late husband's house, under the orders of her overbearing and traditional in-laws. The friendship between these two women, shows one's strength in moving every boulder to save her husband, while the other finds a new sense of freedom and realisation that her husband's death should not be a barrier for her life and happiness.

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BySreeju Sudhakaran
Published: September 18, 2016 12:30 PM IST