Over the years, Bollywood has objectified women in their songs, promoted sexist lyrics, and used actresses as mere props in the movies. From movies like Kabir Singh, where the female lead had no voice of her own, to Pyaar Ka Punchnama, where the ladies were gold-diggers, B-town has embarrassed us in several ways.
Thankfully, the entertainment industry has slowly started to hear our complaints and is gradually doing away with its regressive ways. For every movie like Kabir Singh, we now have films like Thappad, that are breaking stereotypes and showing women characters in a stronger light.
2021 has been a wonderful year for us as we saw some really amazing women-centric movies. These stories delivered powerful social messages and boasted great performances. Scroll ahead to know about the films that impacted our lives this year and left a mark on us.
9 Women-Centric Movies Of 2021 That You Need To (Re)Watch Before The Year Ends
Here are nine Bollywood movies of 2021 with some of the strongest and best female characters ever:
Mimi
Kriti Sanon plays the role of a surrogate mother, who’s abandoned by the biological parents of the baby during her first trimester. She refuses to terminate the pregnancy and decides to raise the child as a single mother. She goes against her family and society to embrace motherhood as an unmarried woman, and her journey will leave you feeling super emotional.
Sherni
Sherni revolves around the human-wildlife conflict in a rural area of Madhya Pradesh. Vidya Balan plays the leading role of a forest officer, who consistently fights nasty office politics and tries to maintain a work-life balance. The story is quite refreshing and will shed light on crucial environmental issues. Several scenes will also remind you that it is never easy to be a woman with strong opinions in a male-dominated world.
Pagglait
Pagglait is definitely one of the best movies of 2021 and you need to watch it right away if you haven’t already. Sanya Malhotra plays the role of Sandhya, a woman who recently lost her husband. The narrative reminds us of the stereotypes that society associates with a widow and the kinds of discrimination she faces. Sandhya is judged for not feeling devasted after her husband’s death and blamed for not feeling loved in the marriage. She tries to behave as her in-laws expect her to before realising her own dreams and aspirations.
Tribhanga
Anuradha (Kajol) hates her mother (Tanvi Azmi) for being ‘too liberal’, leaving her husband and not providing her with a ‘normal life’. Anuradha’s daughter, Masha (Mithila Palkar) is married into a conservative family who demands a son from her. This Renuka Sahane movie is about three strong women and their individual opinions. It’s dark, unconventional and even disturbing at times.
Saina
The movie is a biopic based on Indian badminton ace, Saina Nehwal. Parineeti Chopra, as the titular character in the film, has given a stellar performance and impressed us with her acting. The movie is about the player’s struggles, determination and victory. It’s simple, non-dramatic and extremely touching.
Also Read: Women Empowerment Songs
Thalaivii
Thalaivii is loosely based on the life of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. Kangana Ranaut has delivered a powerful performance as the titular character and proved once again that she’s a phenomenal actress. The story shows how a woman rises to power in a male-dominated world and gains the respect of the nation. While you might find the plot stretched at times, you need to watch this one for the amazing performances.
Ajeeb Daastaans
Ajeeb Daastaans consist of four short stories that showcase the complexities of different relationships. All the characters are ultimately looking for true love, perfect life and peace of mind. But, the ways in which they get all of it will leave you perplexed for a long time.
Rashmi Rocket
Rashmi Rocket touches on the sensitive topic of gender testing in sports and how it affects the lives of athletes. Taapsee Pannu plays the protagonist, Rashmi, a sprinter, who wins a gold medal for her country at an international sports competition. But, her struggles begin when she is pushed to take an archaic gender test that can destroy her career. She fights the injustice for herself and for other women athletes. The movie is loosely inspired by the real-life story of Dutee Chand, the first openly homosexual athlete from India. She was disqualified from the 2014 Commonwealth Games for having excessive testosterone in her body.
Chhorii
Chhorii is a horror movie with a deeper message. Nushrratt Bharuccha plays the lead role of a pregnant NGO worker. After a series of events, she finds herself stuck in an isolated home where a spirit of a woman, Sunaina, tries to kill her and her unborn child. It is later revealed that Sunaina was murdered when she was pregnant by her villagers because she didn’t agree with female infanticide. The movie sheds light on these horrific acts that are still practised in many parts of India.
These women-centric Bollywood movies of 2021 were thought-provoking as well as enjoyable, and we hope to see more such movies in 2022 as well!
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