International Women’s Day 2024: 5 Bollywood movies that showcase the power of women with strong female leads

New Delhi: International Women’s Day is observed annually in March. Among the goals of this day is the promotion of gender equality. One way to achieve this goal is to ensure that women have equal access to all aspects of the workforce and at home.

Over the years, many films in Indian cinema have played a significant role in developing strong female protagonists who are more than merely romantic interests. Women in these films are shown in their truest form, which is vulnerable but also powerful, emotionally intelligent, loving, and caring. They play a variety of characters in these films, from innocent housewives to heroic protagonists.

Some examples of such Bollywood films are these:

1. English Vinglish

In this gripping 2012 film by Gauri Shinde, Sridevi plays the role of a timid middle-class housewife who, after making a monumental choice, finally feels like herself again. This movie demonstrates that women may shatter gender norms and seize power.

2. Kahaani

In Kahaani, a female-led film, we see a woman’s journey as she finds her place in a male-dominated world, breaks preconceptions, turns tropes on their heads, and more. A pregnant lady, played by Vidya Balan, travels from London to Kolkata in the film to find her husband, who goes missing. When she finds no more leads, she knows there must be more to it.

3. Mardaani

The success of female-centric films in Bollywood is inspiring, and Mardaani is an excellent addition to the genre. The film depicts the reality of the drug trade and child trafficking that is still prevalent in modern India. Shivani Shivaji Roy (Rani Mukerji) the Crime Branch officer becomes entangled in a dangerous cat-and-mouse run with a mafia lord while investigating the disappearance of an orphan from an NGO.

4. Mary Kom

Mary Kom is an inspiring true tale of an Indian boxer who overcame insurmountable odds to achieve her lifelong goal. In addition to becoming India’s first female Olympic qualifier, she made history by being the country’s first boxing bronze medal winner. Mary Kom became an icon for women by sheer force of will and perseverance, she disproved the notion that married women or mothers, cannot achieve athletic achievement.

5. Neerja

Feminism stands out among the many valuable lessons taught by Sonam Kapoor’s Neerja. Rather than giving the female protagonist masculine traits, the film highlights a feminine heroic figure who steps up during a crisis. In 1986, the film follows flight attendant Neerja as she boards Pan Am Flight 73. To prevent the terrorists from harming the passengers, Neerja puts her life on the line when the plane is hijacked.