Bollywood Women I love

Only a few days back, i was pondering about why in Hindi Film Industry we dont have many women-centric movies, and the ones we have show women mostly as prostitutes. One thought lead me to another and soon I had this array of thoughts about women in Hindi movies.

We can go on and on over the stereotypes of women in Indian cinema. Now that’s an easy thing to do, I thought why not try to work on something fresh. Women that don’t confine to socially set patterns; and surprisingly I found a huge array of films both parallel and commercial movies that have unusual heroines and these movies did enjoy commercial success. This ofcourse was initiated by Pakeezah, but nevertheless am glad that I thought about this.

Let me begin with what I see as stereotypes -

Women with strong sexual morals ,the wife, mother, sister and the good girlfriend.

Loose morals, very easy, think of Bindu, Helen you got it.The crafty women. This group is headed by the wicked mother in laws, sisters, bad friends etc. Lalita Pawar, Sashikala etc. lead this group.

Strong women. These women always fight against injustice, stand up for their rights but please note they normally do it for their husbands, brothers, fathers and are extremely virtuous in every respect. They may resort to violence and slaughter the villains but there is always the ‘Shakti’ theme behind it. It is disturbingly religious, I mean women behaving like that do need the religious back up. Think of movies like Phool Bane Angaray, Pratighaat, Mrityudand… see what I mean.

The sacrificing ones, there are plenty of movies that are about women of iron will. They go through all kinds of peril and emerge as a winner in the end. Personally these are the ones I genuinely dislike. I will not go in details but examples are Rajshri Brothers films, Saajan Bin Suhagan even Aradhana (no good can ever come out of sleeping with Rajesh Khanna) and so on.

What then do I mean by women who don’t confirm to patterns? My women are not unrealistically strong but are normal women who show genuine courage and strength. Not glorified symbols of virtue but a normal woman. Do Hindi films ever show women like that? Surprisingly the answer is yes, not many but quite a few. I am giving you my top choices to illustrate the point.

Arth, both the women are actually normal, in fact Smita has absolutely no qualms about sleeping with a married man and her eventual psychotic disorder is also excellently portrayed. Shabana is the strong one, and what she does to Kulbhushan in the end is exactly how any normal woman with some self respect will behave. Arth was a huge success. In case you haven’t watched it do so, it’s a great movie.

Aandhi, Suchitra Sen doesn’t go back even though she realizes that she loves her husband. It is an exceptional movie about a politician’s career and her failed marriage that can never be restored. But it’s Gulzar and he is simply incapable of disappointing.

Anahat, it’s in Marathi but I have to include it. It’s my topmost choice. Based on the ancient Indian system of niyoga, the theme is simple, extremely well made. I will always be thankful to Amol Palekar for making a movie like this.

Astitva, that’s why I simply love Tabu. The heroine Aditi (isn’t that wonderful!) is the most traditional wife who finally speaks her mind out and decides to make her life better.

Bandini, to most people it seemed like endless suffering of an innocent girl. But remember Nutan kills Ashok Kumar’s wife and goes to him in the end. True he was her lover and circumstances forced their relation to end, but how many heroines kill the wife?

Chandni Bar, Tabu is a bar dancer who can’t escape circumstances. But this is one very unusual strong woman and an excellent movie.

Damini, the maid’s rape was no business of Meenakshi, yet she fought for her and even went against her family and husband. It’s actually one of my favorite films. Damini inspires me. The heroine is truly strong and fights without being the goddess. It’s probably one of the best movies with a woman in the lead role.

Doosra Admi, Yash Chopra surprisingly brings some normal women in his abnormal movies. Actually let’s not be mean, he made few really bad films but some of them are very good. In this movie Rakhi wrecks a young couple’s life because she sees her dead lover’s image in the young man. Sashi plays her dead lover and Rishi is the young man.

Fire, for it has lesbian relationship in it. And it potrays accoss the silent revolution of two unwanted women. I may or may not approve the way they take, but this movie is special for me simply because they donot fathom to supression.

Guide, Dev Anand is a very special person. Of course because of his looks and for bringing in some most unconventional feminine as well as masculine images to Hindi cinema. We now know him as the biggest crazy guy in Bollywood but he brought in some major changes. I had read the book Guide and I have to admit the movie is better. Waheeda leaves her husband, not because he is abusive or evil, simply because she falls in love with the guide and wants a better life than stifling in her loveless marriage. She pursues her career and when she falls out of love again she makes it clear. Rosie (that’s Waheeda) is one of the best heroines we ever had. And the character is so real - not deviod of any faults, but strong since she has the guts to follow her heart.

Hu Tu Tu, Gulzar again. Tabu’s a spoilt brat who eventually becomes an activist. It’s not one of the best films of Gulzar, but the two women characters are remarkable. Suhashini Mulay plays Tabu’s mother and does something human and natural, sleeps with her mentor to rise to power. Tabu on the other hand gets pregnant by Sunil Shetty but never thinks of marrying him because she knows marriage as such is only a social stupidity and love is what counts.

Hum Tum, though definitely inspired by ‘When Harry met Sally’ the film had very little in common with the English one. It’s a rather refreshing movie. Rani does two great things, sleeps before marriage and is willing to plunge in a normal life after becoming a widow. These two most normal things are so no no in Hindi movies that a normal woman was a welcome change.

Insaf Ka Tarazu, Another favorite of mine. If you haven’t watched it, please do so. Zeenat Aman is a model who loses her rape case because a model is ‘loose’ anyway. Male chauvinism is at its peak in this movie.

Ijazat, Two very unusual women, Rekha leaves the husband who cheats on her, Anuradha Patel the woman who refuses to marry and prefers live in. Only and only Gulzar could make a movie so touching and honest. The best part of the movie is the clarity and honesty of every character.

Kya Kehna, pregnant Preity Zinta keeps her baby. An out and out hopeless movie but has something different, specially when she doesn’t marry the biological dad. The only tragedy here is she chooses Chandrachoor over Saif!

Lamhe, a very soapy romance, yet the heroine (Sridevi) marries someone who was in love with her mother. This is definitely not conventional.

Mirch Masala, Ketan Mehta made some outstanding movies but went nuts afterwards like Mahesh Bhatt. It’s painful to think a guy who made Bhav ni Bhavai, also made Oh Darling yeh hai India and Maya Memsaab. But this masterpiece is about few unusual women who find the most unique way to avenge the villain. Please see it if you haven’t it’s the best movie on women empowerment.

Mandi, the fight of prostitutes against the moral police. This is Shaym Benegal, so you can’t go wrong.

Mammo, another Shaym Benegal movie about two sisters. Farida Jalal we all know is a great actress but this is her best, believe me. Also the way it explores Indo Pak relation is outstanding.

Paheli, the traditional village bride Rani chooses a ghost over her useless husband. It’s a fantastic, erudite movie. I love the folk flavor that’s in it. The puppets, the narrative style, the language and of course Shah Rukh’s in it.

Pinjar, what a beautiful movie. It’s that side of partition that was rarely shown. Urmila is great in it and I remember crying for weeks after watching it.

Satta, Raveena is forced into politics but once she is in it, she does it well. Not a great movie but yes an unusual woman there.

Samay, yes copied from seven, every bit but did you ever think Brad Pitt would be played by Sushmita Sen? Not only that she is a comfortable single mother.

Suraj ka Satvaan Ghoda, I have read the book too. A masterpiece, and each woman is so unique in their way particularly Jamuma, played by Rajeshwari.

Thoda sa Roomani ho Jaaye, I have innumerable reasons to love Amol Palekar. This movie questions the very masculine essence of feminity. I have watched it at least 50 times and can go on another 50 times. Anita Kanwar is in her 30’s unmarried and is naturally scorned by the so called ‘women’.

Zubeidaa, Benegal again and based on a true story. But I love stories about women who don’t confirm to patterns.

There are few more movies, I am not going into the details of but have unusual women.Razia Sultan, Pakheezah, Umrao Jaan, Lajja, Dayra, Sardari Begum and Saathiya.