One of the earliest Bollywood movies to tackle the subject of women’s empowerment was Mother India. Released in 1957, the movie tells the story of a single mother who struggles to raise her two sons in the face of poverty and social oppression. The movie was a commercial success and was also India’s official entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Another Bollywood movie that dealt with the subject of women’s empowerment was Bandit Queen. Released in 1994, the movie was based on the life of Phoolan Devi, a woman who rose to become a powerful bandit in rural India after being raped and abused by upper-caste men. The movie was controversial for its explicit depiction of violence and sexual abuse, but it was also critically acclaimed and won several awards.

Queen released in 2014 deals with women’s empowerment in a more nuanced and subtle way. The movie tells the story of Rani, a young woman from Delhi who goes on her honeymoon alone after her fiancé cancels the wedding at the last minute. The movie is a coming-of-age story that shows how Rani learns to be independent and confident while traveling alone.

Lipstick Under My Burkha released in 2017, tells the story of four women from different backgrounds who are all struggling to assert their independence in a patriarchal society. The movie was controversial for its depiction of female sexuality and was initially banned by the Central Board of Film Certification.

One of the most recent Bollywood movies to tackle the subject of women empowerment is Chhapaak. Released in 2020, the movie tells the true story of Laxmi Agarwal, a woman who was attacked with acid in 2005 and went on to become a campaigner against acid attacks. The movie was praised for its sensitive portrayal of the issue of acid attacks and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of such violence.

Bollywood has also produced movies that have tackled the subject of gender inequality in a more indirect way. One such movie is Dangal. Released in 2016, the movie tells the true story of Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler who trained his daughters to become wrestlers in a society where sports were traditionally seen as a male domain.

Here is a list of my favorite women’s empowerment films from Bollywood.

Astitva (2000)

The movie tells the story of a housewife named Aditi who discovers her own identity and sense of self-worth after her husband accuses her of infidelity. The movie challenges the traditional notions of patriarchy and gender roles.

Bandit Queen (1994) 

This action movie was based on the life of Phoolan Devi, a woman who rose to become a powerful bandit in rural India after being raped and abused by upper-caste men. The movie was controversial for its explicit depiction of violence and sexual abuse, but it was also critically acclaimed and won several awards.

Chhapaak (2020)

The film depicts the true story of an acid attack survivor and her fight for justice.

Dor (2006)

Dor details the story of two women from different parts of India who come together to overcome their struggles. The movie shows how they empower each other and find strength in their friendship.

Dangal (2016)

A fascinating true story of a father who trains his two daughters to become world-class wrestlers. The movie challenges the traditional gender roles and shows how the daughters defy societal norms and achieve success in a male-dominated sport.

English Vinglish (2012)

The movie portrays the story of a housewife who feels left out and inferior because she does not know how to speak English. The movie depicts her journey of self-discovery and empowerment as she learns to speak English and gains confidence in herself.

Fashion (2008)

The movie characterizes the story of a small-town girl who rises to become a successful model in the fashion industry. The movie depicts her struggles and the challenges she faces as a woman in a male-dominated industry.

Gulaab Gang (2014)

The film illustrates a group of women who fight against gender-based violence and corruption in a rural Indian village.

Khoon Bhari Maang (1988) 

Khoon Bhari Maang is a revenge thriller about a woman who transforms herself after being betrayed by her husband and seeks revenge.

Lajja (2001)

Lajja represents the story of four women from different parts of India who are struggling against societal oppression and patriarchy. The movie depicts their struggles and the triumph of the human spirit.

Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016)

The film explores the secret lives and desires of four women in a small town in India.

Mardaani (2014)

The film is sketches a tough female police officer who sets out to rescue a teenage girl from a sex trafficking ring.

Mary Kom (2014)

A biopic based on the life of the famous Indian boxer Mary Kom.

Mother India (1957)

A classic that tells the story of a single mother named Radha who struggles to raise her two sons in the face of poverty and social oppression. The movie is a powerful portrayal of the resilience and strength of a woman who defies societal norms and takes charge of her life.

Neerja (2016)

The true story of Neerja Bhanot, a flight attendant who saved the lives of passengers during a terrorist hijacking is done brilliantly.

No One Killed Jessica (2011)

The film unfolds the true story of Jessica Lal, a model who was shot dead at a party, and the subsequent fight for justice by her sister and a journalist.

Pad Man (2018)

Pad Man is based on the real-life story of Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social activist who invented the low-cost sanitary pad-making machine to provide sanitary hygiene to rural women.

Panga (2020)

Panga is a sports drama film that follows the life of a former national-level kabaddi player, Jaya, who decides to make a comeback into the sport after marriage and motherhood.

Parched (2015)

The film portrays the lives of women in a rural Indian village and their struggles with patriarchy, gender violence, and social norms.

Piku (2015)

The movie tells the story of a young woman named Piku who takes care of her aging father. The movie challenges traditional gender roles and depicts the bond between a father and daughter.

Pink (2016)

The film deals with the issue of consent and the societal bias against women who speak up against sexual harassment.

Queen (2014)

The film follows the journey of a young woman from Delhi who goes on her honeymoon alone after her fiancé cancels the wedding at the last minute. The movie is a coming-of-age story that shows how Rani learns to be independent and confident while traveling alone.

Raazi (2018)

Raazi is a story of a young Kashmiri girl, Sehmat, who gets married to a Pakistani army officer to spy for India during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

Secret Superstar (2017)

The film tells the story of a young girl who dreams of becoming a singer and finds support from her mother and mentor.

Shakuntala Devi (2020)

Shakuntala Devi is a biographical film that portrays the life of the renowned Indian mathematician and author, Shakuntala Devi.

Saina (2021)

Directed by Amole Gupte, Saina is a biographical sports drama film that showcases the life of Indian badminton player, Saina Nehwal.

Thappad (2020)

Directed by Anubhav Sinha, Thappad is a drama film that depicts the story of a woman, Amrita, who files for divorce after her husband slaps her at a party.

The post Women’s Empowerment in Bollywood appeared first on Four Columns of a Balanced Life.

Diwali is the festival of lights celebrated during the Hindu Lunisolar month between mid-October and mid-November. Diwali takes place over five days: Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdasi, Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, and Bhai Dooj. On Dhanteras people purchase gold, silver, clothes, and electronic gadgets as a sign of good luck.  On Narak Chaturdasi, people bathe in natural oils and herbal mix and wear clean clothes.  The Goddess of Wealth, Lakshmi is worshipped on this day and the entire home is lit with diyas. There is an exchange of gifts and sweets. Govardhan Puja is dedicated to Lord Krishna as a mark of gratitude. The final day is a day for siblings to get together and shares gifts and blessings.

I talk to Jayshree about Diwali.

Jayshree, welcome to Four columns. Please tell my audience a little about you?

Hi! I’m Jayshree. I’m originally from Mumbai, India and now I live in Windham, NH in the US. 

Tell me about Diwali and what does it represent?

Diwali is the most important festival in India. There are two legends that explain the reason behind celebrating the festival. In North India, it is believed that Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya during this period after defeating the evil demon Ravana who had kidnapped his wife. In Southern India, Diwali is celebrated to mark the day when Lord Krishna killed the demon Narakasura who had abducted and imprisoned many women. In both cases, it represents the victory of good over evil and light over darkness and is celebrated symbolically by lighting Diya (lamps).

Talk to me about Tamilian Diwali?

I’m ethnically a Tamilian. We generally celebrate Diwali early in the morning by taking a cleansing oil bath with sesame oil followed by eating sweets and savories and an herbal ayurvedic concoction to help us digest the rich food. We wear new festive attire and we decorate our homes with Rangoli (floor art) and diya (lamps) and burst firecrackers.

How do you celebrate at Diwali at home?

In the US, I celebrate a more generic Indian version of Diwali. I do the usual stuff like decorating my home with diya and rangoli and I make a few traditional sweets. As I live in a state where fireworks are legal, I call friends over for a fireworks party where we burst fireworks like sparklers, pencils, flower pots, bombs, and rockets. It’s very nostalgic and reminds us of our celebrations in India.

Wow, that sounds like fun. For Christmas, we do trees, decorations, lights, exchange gifts, and have family over. What are some Diwali traditions?

We wear new clothes and exchange sweets and savories with friends and families. For me personally, the most enjoyable tradition is decorating the house beautifully with lamps, lanterns, candles, and floral arrangements. Lighting a diya is a powerful symbol to dispel darkness and invite light into our hearts and homes. I also enjoy making rangoli or floor art with colored rice flour, sand colors, and flower petals.

Tell me a little about Hinduism and how do you practice it?

Hinduism is such a diverse religion that there is no one size fits all. Within Hinduism, if you take one statement to be true, its complete opposite will also be the truth for some of its followers. For me, the beauty of religion lies in the fact that you can make of it what you will. Some people follow a more ritualistic version of the religion. I am intrigued by the philosophical and mystical aspects of religion. At home, I have a small area that serves as a temple and houses idols and pictures of the various Gods and Goddesses. I am an inter-faith person and I like to take what is good from each religion and reject what is outdated and not aligned with my values. I like the fact that Hinduism is a tolerant religion and I also like its complexity but I don’t follow some of the patriarchal practices that make no sense in our modern society.

Do you fast for your husband and his well-being?

I’ve never fasted for my husband and I never will. First of all, fasting for husbands is not a custom followed by all Hindus. As I explained earlier, Hinduism has a lot of diversity and the traditions vary from region to region.  In my community, we don’t fast for husbands. We fast on certain days but the fasts are meant for the Gods and Goddesses.

Explain the Mangal Sutra and the red sindoor on the head?

The Mangal Sutra or Taali is a necklace tied by the bridegroom on the bride on the day of the wedding and the sindoor is a red powder (vermilion) placed by him in the part of the hair. These traditions seal the marriage and traditionally the woman always wore the Mangal Sutra and the sindoor to show her marital status. Again, these customs are not followed by all Hindus. In some parts of India, women only wear sindoor, not the Mangal Sutra and in others, it is vice-versa. To me, this is a patriarchal custom as men don’t announce their marital status. But it could also be explained as customs designed to keep women safe in an era when there were a lot of warriors and show that she was already ‘taken’. For me, they are fashion statements. I usually wear them when I wear sarees or traditional attire as I think they look pretty.

What about the dot in the center of the head?

The dot on the center of the forehead is called the bindi, tikka, or pottu. It is considered to be the mystical third eye. The area on the forehead between the eyebrows is believed to be the sixth chakra or seat of energy and denotes concealed wisdom. There is a belief that no one can hypnotize you if you wear that dot. Men and children also wear tikka. Married women wear a red dot on their foreheads made of vermillion but nowadays the bindi has become a fashion statement and is sold in dazzling colors and shapes as stickers.

How is faith, finance, family, and food important to you and how do you balance them?

The four Fs that you talk about are important to every family. We balance it by devoting quality time to each area and by making it a shared responsibility of every member of the family.

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