Female Oriented Movies of 2014!

Comments [ 1 ] By Gurprit K. | 08 March 2015 | 9:58pm

Films, in any culture, are indicative of the progress of a society, its values and its constraints. From its films, you can more or less figure where a country stands socio-politically, what are the mindsets of its common citizens and what are the issues that ail that land. And by these standards, 2014 has been a landmark year for Bollywood. In the largest democracy of the world, women issues are burning bright and hot in every heart of the nation these days due to various unfortunate events all over the country. Women liberation, women rights and women safety are the most debated topics currently, and in keeping with the trend, Bollywood came out with several female oriented issue-based film last year. To our delight, not only garnered critical acclaim, but attracted a large audience as well. Lets us recount the movies in this category that left a lasting mark on our hearts and on the history of cinema.

Gulaab Gang, another gem offered to us by Bollywood, starring two heavy-weights of the acting world, Madhuri Dixit Nene and Juhi Chawla - who was for the first time seen in a negative role. This film is inspired from the group of female activists and vigilantes in Bundelkhand, Uttar and Madhya Pradesh, who call themselves the "Gulaabi Gang" and thus wear bright pink sarees. It tells the inspired story of a band of rural women who has taken their education, welfare and defense in their own hands and are no longer cowering down in front of anyone anymore.

Highway, starring Alia Bhatt, was another female oriented film that told us the story of self discovery of a young affluent girl who is abducted just before her wedding for ransom. The controversial issue of child sexual abuse by a family member, an issue which is very much present in our esteemed society where small girls are ironically revered as Devi or Goddess, is an issue from which even many of the educated class prefer to look the other way when confronted, was raised in all its ugly glory in this film. A much needed film for the country which boasts of biggest educated progressive middle-class in the world, the young Bhatt surely wowed the audience with her impeccable portrayal of the young Veera, earning her much appreciation and the prestigious Filmfare Critics Award for the Best Actress.

The Kangana Ranaut starrer Queen was one of the first releases of the year 2014 that awed all and sundry. In a country where a jilted bride is frowned upon without any fault of her own, this film went onto show the wonders what empowering ones own self can do. An under-confident girl, left on the altar at the nth hour, without any help of her friends and family embarks on her honeymoon alone and no, she does not find another love interest. She finds herself. Priceless.

Mardaani, another 2014 release, starring the talented Rani Mukerji, touches on the sensitive subject of kidnapping of young girls and forced prostitution rackets going on in India. In this crime thriller Mukerji play a tough cop who unravels one such racket of human trafficking by the Indian mafia. It is not that this is the first film made on the subject, but its is more focused on a the courageous female cop and thus, spotlighting the strong female role models of our society.

Lakshmi, was another 2014 film which brought to light the abominable flesh trade in the nation. Made by off-beat cinema master Nagesh Kukunoor, this film, while was on the same subject as Mardaani, was much more hard hitting. It is the story of Lakshmi, a 14 year old innocent girl played by Monali Thakur who is abducted and sold into child prostitution where she is regularly raped; sometimes multiple times in one night, and brutally beaten. This film deals with the harsh gut wrenching realities of this inhumane trade and jolts us out of our comfortable couches. It also highlights the unbreakable spirit of the victimized teen. Kudos to the makers!

The biographical sports drama starring Priyanka Chopra in the titular role, Mary Kom, was another awe-worthy film of the year. It is a biopic about the five-times female World Boxing Champion and Olympic bronze medalist Mary Kom, nicknamed 'Magnificent Mary'. This film starts with Mary's childhood and goes onto tell us about her struggles and tribulations as many years later, how just on the basis of hardwork, grit, and determination, she leads India to victory in 2008 AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships.

Bollywood has been raising women issues in it films since ages, but those movies were far and few in between. But in 2014, it seemed there was a flood of women issue related films and to top that, all of them were sensibly made. All we can say is that these films are the need of the hours to mass educate people about evils in our own self and midst, and we hope that Bollywood filmmakers will keep churning out such thought provoking films in future as well.

Author: Anamika GK.

Editor(s): Ritchelle C. and Hershi J.

Graphics: Komal P.

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