Women in Indian cinema

Before our research we were in an opinion that there weren't much films in which women
played a pivot role .But we were quite amazed that there were many films in which women played
a major role and only the present generation is unaware of that. From MOTHER INDIA that has
been released in 1957 to U TURN in 2018 there were many women leading roles but the people
say that Indian cinema is a male dominating cinema. But it could be accepted only to a limited
extend. Let us here analyze the evolution of women characters in Indian cinema industry.

‘MOTHER INDIA’ that has been nominated for the Oscar award laid the foundation for the
outcome of many women leading characters in India. In that film NAGARIS(Radha),played the
role of a perfect ancient Indian mother whose husband left the family as he couldn't reinforce them.
Her character shows the dignity of Indian women to the world. She sacrifices a lot for her family
and she is even ready to work hard to repay the debts but she never wants to sell herself to the
moneylender. This character serves as a great inspiration for the support less women in India.

A film called ‘GITA AUR SITA’ that has been released in 1972 is about the identical twins
namely Geetha and Seetha played by Hemamalini. In this movie she played two contrary characters
as a feisty girl and an innocent girl. Manorama also played a crucial negative role as a crude aunt of
Seetha . Hemamalini received the Filmfare award for the best actress for this movie.

In 1974 a Tamil film called ‘AVAL ORU THODAR KATHAI’ exhibits the life of a young
woman that was played by Sujatha(Kavitha) who is the sole bread winner. She sacrifices herself to
the family and played a role as of a male earning for his family . She played an evergreen role
which the audience would never forget.

‘AVAL APADITHAAN’ is a Tamil film which tells the story woman who faces failures
continuously. Kamal Hasan and Rajini Kanth acted in that film. But Sri Priya plays the center role
of the film and never allowed the male stars to dominate the film. This character is a promising one
for her and she cleverly carried out her role.

A film called ‘ARTH’ released in 1982 is basically concerned with the power women hood.
Shabana Azmi(Pooja),who was deserted by her husband as he fell in love with an actress. Azmi
tries to be self reliant and she struggles to find herself an identity in this society. Her character
proved that women could live without the support of male.

In 1994,a film called ‘BANDIT QUEEN’ released that was based on the real life history of
Phoolan Devi who was born in Uttar Pradesh. Seema Biswas played the role of Phoolan Devi. She
was married at her earlier age and was subjected to sexual harassment . She escaped from there and
lived with her cousin and she was made to go away from there and she joined in the Bandit gang
where she was raped continuously by the leader of that group. She also escaped from there and
joined in another group and she took revenge against the leader who raped her and finally she
surrendered to the police for the welfare of the members of the group. Really hats off to Seema
Biswas for taking the role of the rape victim and her role reflected the intent of the anger and the
vengeance of the raped women. She deserves all the appreciation for this role.

Meenakshi Shesdhri in the film ‘DAMINI’ performed a similar character like Seema Biswas
who seek justice for the victim who was raped by her brother in law. Her act could be described as
the role of the life time which every actress would dreamt for.

In ‘KYA KEHNA’, released in 2000 Preethi Jindha (Priya) enacted a role of a college
women who was in love with Saif Ali Khan (Rahul) and later they had sex. When Priya comes to
know that she was pregnant Rahul refuses to marry her. Then Priya decides to grow up her child
though her family was against her. When she goes to the college her friends started mocking at her
and they prefer to stay away from her because of her spoiled character. She exhibits the problems
and feelings of a girl who becomes pregnant before marriage. of her family and the society
condemning, she decides to grow up her child. She reveals the affection of the Indian mother.

In the same year ‘SNEGITHIYE’ was released which is a thriller movie in which women
played the most of the roles and it can be even said as WOMEN DOMINATING MOVIE. Jyothika
(Vasu), Sharban (Radhika), Lakshmi (Malathi) and so on keep the viewers on the edge of the seat
throughout the movie which has many twists and turns. It is really a wonder that throughout the
movie the women actresses kept the audience in front of the screen without even closing their eyes.
Though this film was criticized by some that there were no romance and comedy, roles played by
women were appreciated. Only after this film released many of the viewers are of the view that
women actress can also carry the thriller movie successfully.

‘CHAMELI’, a film released in 2004 narrates the life of the prostitute. Kareena Kapur took
the challenging role of a prostitute which most of the heroines neglected and this character has
given a turning point in her career.

‘PAGE 3’,a film released in 2005 narrates the life history of the three young women and
which has a negative climax. Madhavi (Konkona Sen Sharma),Pearl(Sandhya Mirdul),
Gayathri(Tara Sharma) were the three women who lives together in an apartment. Pearl, an air
hostress who wants to marry a rich guy to live a lavish and expensive life. She married a
Millionaire and settled in USA but lives a loveless life. Gayathri who wants to become a famous
actress was compelled by a director to spent a night with him to become a heroine in a film.
Madhavi, a reporter who covers the page 3 containing celebrity news. Later she neglects that field
and chooses to cover the crime news. While investigating a case she found that Ramesh, a business
man mistreating children in his island. She brings this to the notice of the editor to publish her
news as the headline. When the editor asked the owner he said that they were receiving most of the
advertisements from Ramesh and he refused to publish that news and she was also thrown away
from the job. Then she got a job in another newspaper company where she was asked to cover
page3.These women characters unveil the struggles that women undergo to shine.

‘BLACK’ picturizes the life of a deaf and blind girl(Rani Mukerji) who was graduated at
the age of 40 with the help of her teacher Amitabh Bhachan, a victim of Alzeimers disease. The
attempts of the blind girl of the blind girl to learn stimulates the normal people to achieve
something in life.

‘CHAK DE’, a film released in 2007 was based on Indian Women hockey team where 16
women characters enacted as hockey players with Salman Khan as their coach. Amin described the
process as "very, very difficult" and "very strenuous because the requirement was they had to play
– and act".They exactly did the same and they satisfied the director and the audience with their
energetic performance throughout the film. They even acted like a professional hockey players.

In year 2008 a film called ‘FASHION’ was released which narrates the story of a middle
class women who want to shine as a model. This role was cleverly undertaken by Priyanka Chopra.
She went to Mumbai and finally got a chance from Arbaaz and later they developed a relationship.
She changed her attitude towards her friends. When she became pregnant and got deceived from
her relationship she discloses it to Arbazz's wife about their relationship. This turned down her
carrier and she went to her home and rejoins with her friends. Her father encourages her to return
to Mumbai and with the help of her friend she got an opportunity. When she stood on the ramp she
was shocked with the death news of Kangana Raunaut whom she replaced earlier because of her
addict to the drugs. Priyanka tried to rehabilitate her but in vain. Then regaining the confidence she
walked on the ramp with a cheer round of applause with which the film ends. This role is a great
inspiration for those who tries to come out with flying colours and also shows the consequences of
forgetting the past.

From 2010 onwards many ghostic films were released especially in Kollywood and the
women were given the role of ghosts in most of the films.

In 2011 a film called ‘NO ONE KILLED JESSICA’ picturises two women who sought
justice for another women. Rani Mukherjee, a journalist who is more of an activist teams up with
Vidya Balan, the sister of a murdered model, as she gets interested in the case and wants to bring
justice to her case. This is a real story which was based on the controversial murder case of Jessica
Lal. This is a very hard-hitting film, maybe a slap on the face of everyone who desperately try to
remain unaware of the wrongs happening in this country. Just Sabrina(Vidya Balan) was, till
Jessica got murdered. And the roles of two women characters would contribute in developing
courage among ordinary women as these two women roles were audacious in nature and they
fought against the powerful politician for justice and won with the support of many.

In the same year another Vidya Balan movie, ‘DIRTY PICTURE’ proved that she is the
queen of challenging roles. Here was a sensuous character who didn't give two hoots about society
and didn't mind flaunting her body. She pulled off the bold role effortlessly and won the hearts of
many audience as well as the awards. This role is inspired by the late south Indian actress SILK
SMITHA.

In India ,mostly the society judges the knowledge of an individual with their fluency in
English. ‘ENGLISH VINGLISH’ is a story of women who finds difficulty in speaking and
understanding English. The film is captured mostly in New York and captures the inherent struggle
of many people all over the world with the English Language . In this film Sri Devi was made to
feel insecured by her family and the society as she doesn’t know English. Then she troubles herself
to learn English and then she masters the language. The circumstances made her to overcome the
insecurity and she taught the world to become a self assured and confident women.

In 2014, a film called ‘QUEEN’ was released which narrates the life of a woman who finally
discovers her own identity. Kangana Ranaut (Rani) was dumped just a day before her wedding by
her fiance . So she decided to go honeymoon alone to Paris which brought a change in her attitude.
The various adventures happening on her trip makes her realize that she is much more than only
being a house-wife for her fiancé and that she can live her life fully and enjoy it without any
worries. This was the kind of women centric film which the Indian cinema had never touched.
Kangana Ranaut revels in her solidly-written role, and delivers a first rate, heart-felt performance.
And she also becomes the QUEEN OF HEARTS.

In 2014, MARY KOM was released and the role of Mary Kom was played by Priyanka
Chopra. She plays a role of a wife, a mother and a fighter and she is the modern wonder woman
who was supported by her husband. Priyanka has, quite literally, given her blood and sweat to the
movie and thus, it deserves to be watched. In 2016, DANGAL and IRUDHI SUTRU were
released. In both the films the actresses played a great role. Both the films are sports based and has
more or less the same plot. In both the films, the women were from the rural villages and

eventually they win the world championship. These roles emphasises the strifes that a rural girl
undergo to succeed.

In 2015 ,a film called INJI IDUPAZALAGI speaks about a fat girl and the difficulties a fat
girl undergo in getting married. Anushka did the role of the fat girl and she tried a lot to shape her
body to suit the character and she tried a lot to increase her weight to an abnormal one for the
character and she succeeded in her role though the film has not got the commercial hit.

The movie, PADMAVAATI that was released in 2018 after a long struggle depicts the story
of Rani Padmavati, , who was the wife of Ratan Sen, the Rajput ruler of Mewar. She was a
legendary Hindu Rajput queen. In AD 1303, due to the lusty desire of Alauddin Khilji towards Rani
Padmini, he sieged and conquered the Chittor Fort in Rajputana. Will the queen succeed in the fight
against Khilji forms the plot of Padmaavat.

NADIGAYAR THILAGAM narrates the life history of SAVITRI, a south Indian actress and
Keerthi Suresh took the role of SAVITRI. And films like IMAIKKA NODIGAl and U TURN
were women centric thriller films which were released recently and were successfully running .The
film based on the life history of the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha was planned
to be released on her birthday.

Evolution:

“In the very early days of cinema when Phalke was beginning to make films, women were not
willing to act due to the stigma attached to public performance. Acting, singing or dancing for
an audience was associated with prostitutes and courtesans, and so were outside the boundaries
of decent society.” ( Gokulsing and Dissaayake, 2004 pg.114 )

It could be perceived from the above that the socio-cultural context within which women
started acting in films, determined the roles that were given to them in films; their film roles had to
conform to the existing socio-cultural realities of women, and to the semiotics of their real life
roles (upholder of family values, representing the status of family and community, etc.).

The evolution of roles of women in Indian Cinema has not just happened within a year or two. It
has taken nearly a century for the women characters to evolve from the life of a lady who terribly
works to get the daily bread for her family to the life of a woman who became the chief minister
and won the hearts of many. Now a days many women centric films began to come in Indian
Cinemas and the audience too enjoy those kind of films like other male dominated films. These
type of films also started to give commercial hits. Popular actresses have reduced acting as
heroines and started acting in the women centric movies. In 1950s the women characters were very
sorrowful and most of the films narrated the life of the poor woman and the difficulties they face to
lead a normal life. Till 1960s the most of the Indian families were patriarchal in nature there
weren’t more roles for the women in the society. So the women didn’t find much roles to act in the
movies. Till 1980s most of the women films dealt with the sacrifices they undergo and the
problems of a women in running the family and their role in managing the family. From 1990s
most of the women centric movies spoke about the sexual harassment of the women and how the
women were cheated by the men after marriage and how they over come from that and take
revenge . Still 20th century women centric films are mostly based on their struggle to live in this
world. We may say that in 21st women centric films have increased to a greater number. Only in
these century many challenging roles were taken by the actress. Women oriented films started
attracting the people in the 21st century. And many women centric thriller films has also began to
come. And the in the film Snegithiye, there were no men who played major role the film has also
given the blockbuster hit. This films has destructed the preconceived notions of many that the
feministic films won’t get commercial hits. And women centric films also have touched the social
issues and some women roles also dealt with the protest for these issues. And many actresses have
changed their physical structure for the character to compete with men and they must be praised for
their efforts. As some of the roles like sportswomen and policewomen needs physical fitness , the
women actresses readily accepted the challenge and changed themselves accordingly. The life story
of the sportswomen, Mary Kom was released in 2014 which is before the release of the life
histories of M.S.Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar. It is quite surprising to have a life history of a
sportswomen before the life history legend sportsmen. And now a days many feministic films
which was based on the historical events and the biographies of feminists have begun to attract the
actresses. The eminent actresses have even decided only to act in those women centric movies and
the audience should not segregate the films as male centric and women centric. They must learn to
welcome any kind of new ideas that would bring some kind of changes in the society. This may
apprise us the evolution of the women roles and this evolution is made possible because of the
huge response and greetings from the audience for the feministic films.