New Delhi: From ‘Mother India’ to ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi,’ Bollywood has churned out a fair number of women-led films – some with resounding success, others with a moderate one. Most of them have had an exemplary performance by actresses who played the protagonist backed by a strong storyline. They are all worthy of a recall.
Lets’ take a look:
Mother India (1957)
Mother India, a classic, was a path-breaking film of its time. It is considered to be one of Nargis Dutt’s most impressive and iconic performances. Nargis as Radha is a poor villager who fights all odds to raise her two sons. She is looked upon as the epitome of justice who even kills her immoral son for the sake of justice.
Directed by Ketan Mehta it is the story of an ordinary village woman, Sonbai played by Smita Patil who chooses to say no to a subedar played by Naseeruddin Shah. Deepti Naval play the village Mukhiya’s wife who revolts against her husband for his atrocities against her will to educate their daughter.
Vidya Balan plays the role of a pregnant woman who searches for her missing husband in this Sujoy Ghosh film. The movie celebrates the strength, power, and courage of women.
English Vinglish (2012)
Late Sridevi’s comeback film is the story of a common housewife Shashi Godbole. She is looked down upon and made fun of by her husband just because she can’t speak fluent English. Shashi learns the language on her US trip to her niece’s wedding. Sridevi’s understated performance of an empowered woman without breaking into histrionics won hearts.
A beautiful story of a young girl Rani played by Kangana Ranaut who is heartbroken when Vijay played by Rajkumar Rao ditches her just a day before their wedding. Rani decides to fulfil her wish of going on a honeymoon to Paris but all alone. She meets new friends, discovers the world and life and comes back a changed person. Vijay shows interest in this new avatar but Rani rejects his proposal.
This Madhur Bhandarkar film depicts the lives of numerous women in Mumbai who are caught in the web of the underworld, prostitution, dance bars and crime. Mumtaz, played by Tabu strives hard to survive in this murky world.
The film is based on the true-life story of an air hostess, Neerja Bhanot who was shot and killed while making sure that hundreds of passengers of the hijacked Pan Am Flight 73 were safe and sound. Sonam Kapoor plays Neerja.
Another Sridevi film, in which she plays a mother who revenges her daughter’s rape and death after being denied justice by the law.
Damini was a coming of age film, in which Damini, played by Meenakshi Sheshadri, fights her brother-in-law whom she catches physically abusing her maid. However, the family opposes her and she has to leave the house. She is helped by an ex-advocate to gain justice.
It is the story of a female cop, Shivani Roy played by Rani Mukerji who fights the kingpin of organised crimes involving child trafficking and drugs. It shows how the lady officer fights woman trafficking in the city.
