Although women empowerment and gender equality are still a long way to go, they are showing positive progress in India gradually. Like other spheres of society, Bollywood is also coming to terms with treating women more than just ‘damsels in distresses’ in movies.
Following is a list of Bollywood movies on women empowerment that will surely blow your mind with a great story and amazing performances!
1. Queen
Featuring Kangana Ranaut, Queen is one of the best Bollywood movies on women empowerment. This film shows how Rani, a simple and docile young lady became an assertive, confident and opinionated woman after her ‘solo honeymoon’ travel to Paris and Amsterdam.
Although it was not easy for her initially, as she met new people and spent days abroad on her own terms, she got to unlearn many things that held her back all these years.
The film is thoroughly amusing and gives us a great lesson that women are self-sufficient and marriage is not the only goal of their lives.
2. English Vinglish
Gauri Shinde’s English Vinglish is a film about rediscovering yourself and letting go of all the inhibitions that weighs you down. The plot of this 2012-hit movie revolves around a housewife, Shashi Godbole (Sridevi), who travels to New York to attend her niece’s wedding.
She was not valued even within her family as she did not know English well. However, during her trip to New York, she joined a spoken English class there, which changed her forever. After dealing with several difficulties, she finally learnt to speak English which gave her confidence.
Not only did her own husband and daughter realise their mistakes of taking her for granted, but also Shashi herself rediscovered herself in the process. This movie taught us that you can always learn new things, irrespective of age.
3. Margarita with a Straw
Laila (Kalki Koechlin) is a girl with cerebral palsy, and this film documents her journey of studying and finding the love of her life.
In the movie, she gets to know herself better and discovers her sexual orientation. Margarita with a Straw also talks about the social stigma against differently-abled people.
4. Pink
Released in 2016, Pink contributed greatly to starting ‘no means no’ campaign. Although most of the film takes place in a courtroom, it discusses a few grave matters like consent, racial discrimination, and likes.
The razor-sharp dialogues of Amitabh Bachchan (advocate for assaulted girls) and the tension between scenes make it a gripping film throughout.
5. Nil Battey Sannata
It is an amazing film about a mother and a daughter. Chanda (played by Swara Bhaskar), a house help only dreams of giving her daughter a better and respectable life. However, the teenage girl fails to understand her mother’s sacrifice. It is then; Chanda joins her daughter’s class and resumes her study.
This masterpiece will leave you teary-eyed and happy at the same time.
Have you watched all these Bollywood movies on women empowerment? Comment below!