Pagglait, with a sterling performance by Sanya Malhotra, is my favourite. It starts with a young bride who is expected to mourn her deceased husband but is unable to do so. She found him distant when alive and discovers his paramour after his death. In the wake of the death, a vacuum is created and a power struggle ensues to take charge of Sandhya’s (Sanya) life. That is when she steps in and takes charge herself.
This bold and realistic depiction of a middle-class family by director Umesh Bist needs to be lauded and watched again and again. It is a low-key, one-of-its-kind movie. It also takes a jab at the so-called ‘sacrosanct rituals’ which we attach so much importance to. (Which is your recent favourite watch on women’s empowerment... October 11)
Pampa Paul
One of the finest films on women empowerment happens to be Mahesh Manjrekar’s Astitva, spearheaded by Tabu, a victim of misogynistic attitudes prevalent in a typical patriarchal family setting. Aditi (Tabu), a dedicated housewife and a devoted mother, receives intimation of a fortune bequeathed to her by her music teacher, Malhar (Mohnish Bahl), through registered post. Shrikant, an entrepreneur, has been happily married to Aditi for many years. They have a son, Aniket who is ready to embrace marital bliss with Revathy (Namrata Shirodkar). Shrikant leafs through his old diaries and comes to the conclusion that he is not the biological father of Aniket. Aditi makes a clean breast of it and admits without faltering that she had succumbed to a momentary temptation posed by the situation and the magnetic charm exuded by Malhar while he was away.
Her son and husband are shocked. Shrikant files for divorce and Aditi is asked to leave her husband’s house, that she had carefully safeguarded, for good. The rather docile Aditi delivers a strong speech on how a chauvinistic and egotistical husband like Shri treats his wife like a doormat despite receiving innumerable favours from her. Aditi’s identity merges with her husband’s as she passively commits her entire being to the service of the two ungrateful men in the house. Aditi feels free as a bird as she departs from home with the desire of seeking a new identity for herself with Revathy, a modern girl, preferring to break her engagement rather than putting up with an orthodox mindset. Meghna, their family friend, is also depicted as a strong-willed, independent woman who terminates her marriage once her husband commits adultery. The three women in the film stand for female power signifying resilience, grit and the will to carve out a niche for themselves, defying all oppositions, to establish their ‘astitva’.
Suparna Ghosh
My pick for the recent watch on women empowerment will be Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020), starring Janhvi Kapoor in the titular role. This film infused me with a long-lasting inspiration that women can outdo men in any field if she is determined.
The biopic is about Gunjan Saxena, one of the first women Indian fighter Air Force pilots. A young Gunjan becomes fascinated by the cockpit view during a journey and instantly desires to become a pilot. She declares her ambition in front of her family but her brother Anshuman, an army officer, disagrees, stating that a girl should do household chores. But Gunjan gets her father’s support. She joins the Air Force camp in Udhampur as the first-ever female pilot there. She faces a lot of difficulties due to the lack of amenities for women and misses her flight practices. She leaves the camp, returns home and thinks of getting married but her father confronts her and makes her realise her ability. When she returns to the camp, she is urgently needed in the Kargil war. During that time, too, she faces gender prejudices but skillfully rescues wounded soldiers risking her life. She finally gets acknowledgement from her male colleagues and her brother.
This film not only encompasses women empowerment but also defines a lovely father-daughter relationship that every girl child deserves. It is a must-watch for those who still underestimate a woman’s ability.
Sikrity Ghosh
My recent favourite watch on women’s empowerment is Meghna Gulzar’s Chhapaak. Starring Deepika Padukone as an acid attack victim Malti, this film celebrates her extraordinary determination to transform society despite facing a life-altering ‘splash’. Powered with poignant and realistic storytelling, it subtly takes a jibe at the judiciary as well as at glorified patriarchy which predominantly discourages the victim from seeking justice. Malti’s inspiring journey from despising her appearance to courageously accepting it was outstanding.
Aayman Anwar Ali
My favourite recent watch on women’s empowerment is Tarla, which is based on the fascinating and inspiring real-life story of the celebrity chef, cookbook author and cooking show host Tarla Dalal. In this slice-of-life film, Huma Qureshi stepped into the shoes of the popular chef. I watched the captivating biopic — in which the extraordinary life journey of the culinary artist from being a homemaker to becoming the legendary figure of Indian cooking was wonderfully shown — twice.
Sourish Misra
