Today is a big and special day. It celebrates all the women in the world for the role they play and their contribution to society. That is right. Today, on 8 March 2022, we celebrate Women's day. Women have played a key role in the formation of this world around us and they do not get the credit they deserve every day. Even in the entertainment and movie industry, they have a huge part to play. It is not always that women are portrayed in great light in movies but when they are, they are the strongest characters. They are not afraid to showcase their potential and break stereotypes with their compelling and commanding roles. Here is a look at some such moments where women outshined the men with whom they shared screen space.
1) MAGALIR MATTUM (OLD):
The film focuses on how three women take matters into their own hands and decide to gang up against their salacious boss in order to end all his atrocities after they are constantly harassed by him in the office that they work in.
2) MAGALIR MATTUM (NEW):
This newer version of the film talks about the liberation of women from the clutches of men. The film tells the story of three women school friends who reunite after 38 years, trying to break away from the shackles of marriage. They relive their college days that include a race, calling out sexism, sharing their 'first-love' stories and much more.
3) NERKONDA PARVAI (with credits to Pink):
The story is about how a veteran lawyer comes out of retirement to help three women who have been falsely implicated in a criminal case by a man in a high position of power. The inspiring aspect of this film is how the women are portrayed. No matter what power or however influential the man may be, they do not step down but instead, face the situation boldly in order to clear their name from the false allegations charged against them.
4) IRAIVI:
The film showcases the impact that women face because of the crimes committed by the men in their lives. The film effectively portrays how certain hasty decisions taken by men have a significant impact on the lives of women. The film also shows how the women seek for their personal happiness when their lives have turned miserable because of the men in their lives. Instead of the regular pattern, women in Iraivi are powerful in a way that they were able to handle every situation that life throws at them.
5) KALKI:
The film revolves around Chellammaa, a singer by profession, who gets married to a businessman. However, when he learns that she cannot conceive, he insults and humiliates her, which further leads to their divorce. The film was a slap on the face to male-chauvinism and sexism. It portrays the titular character Kalki as an independent modern age woman who lives her life by her own values. Even after conceiving a child out of marriage with another man, she was not slut shamed or anything. The idea of ‘Her body, her choices’ was firmly set by KB in Kalki way back in 1996 itself when many characters have slut shamed the heroines for just talking to another man. The film broke, ran over and burnt the stereotype much that it is relevant even now after 26 years of its release.
6) 36 VAYADHINILE:
The film is about how Vasanthi finally gets to follow her dreams after her husband and daughter leave for Ireland. Her journey of self-discovery and achievement is a true example for every middle-aged woman who feels neglected by her own family. All it took Vasanthi to feel worthy was her determination and relentlessness.
7) ARUVI:
The film is about Aruvi, who is thrown out of her house after her family accuses her of bringing shame onto them and how she must overcome several challenges when she tries to survive on her own. Aruvi is a rebel with a cause and is portrayed as a bold, fearless, strong independent woman who is also fun-loving and playful at times. Aruvi's revenge on the men who sexually exploited her is new and unconventional.
8) AVAL APPADITHAN:
The film is about Manju, a modern woman who works for a male chauvinist boss, who helps a man named Arun to film a documentary on the lifestyle of women from different backgrounds. As their work progresses, he falls in love with her. The film explores the themes of feminism and equality for women through events in the life of its main character, Manju.
9) KANDUKONDAIN KANDUKONDAIN:
The film follows two of the girls, Sowmya and Meenakshi, who are of marriageable age, but Sowmya is branded "unlucky" after her fiancé decides to commit suicide and Meenakshi is left alone after her lover leaves her for another woman for money. Still, many hurdles remain as both girls struggle to find the right man and keep the family's finances in order. The multi-starrer directed by Rajiv Menon had powerful female characters played by Tabu and Aishwarya Rai respectively. Sowmya and Meenakshi’s independent nature and self-realization were beautifully enacted by both the female leads.
10) VINNAITHAANDI VARUVAAYAA:
The movie follows Karthik, a Hindu, who falls in love with Jessie, a Christian from a traditional family. The two share a bond but things change when Karthik becomes busy during a forty-day shoot in Goa. Generally, movies show the female lead without any depth and instead define the character as either bold or homely or obedient or silent etc. But a girl is nothing like that in real life as shown in those movies. Jessie is a mixture of everything. She is bold at times, afraid at times, confused at times and outspoken at times and that is what makes her character come alive and feel real. One who has all the qualities existing in them simultaneously is portrayed extraordinarily by Trisha as Jessie in this movie.
11) AVAL ORU THODAR KATHAI:
In this film, Kavitha heads the responsibility of her family ever since her father leaves them and her brother turns into a drunkard. In that process, she loses her love and any chance at her own freedom and happiness. Kavitha is an office-goer who is also the breadwinner of her family. She is family-bounded, disciplined, arrogant but also fierce, independent and mature. She led the life of an independent yet sacrificial woman whose main goal is to sustain her family.
12) SINDHU BHAIRAVI:
This is a story of a renowned Carnatic singer JKB who falls in love with his fan Sindhu, a music teacher. JKB is stuck in between love and morality as he is already married to Bhairavi. When the society does not approve of their extra-marital affair, Sindhu leaves town after handing over her child to JKB and Bhairavi. Sindhu was a bold, independent, taboo-breaking female who was not scared to challenge JKB at a public concert. She was a self-made woman who sculpted herself as an unbreakable person. As an unwed mother and an unapproved lover, the character of Sindhu broke all the stereotypes.
13) MOZHI:
The film follows Karthik who falls in love with Archana, a girl who is both hearing and speech impaired. When he realizes that she does not feel the same way about him, he is heartbroken. The character of Archana, who is both deaf and mute, doesn’t like others to sympathize on her. She works for a living and is not dependent on anyone. Usually, movies with such characters put them in a house surrounded by 4 walls and looking very depressed given their circumstances but not this movie. Archana from the very beginning is kind, bold and strong but has a fair share of fears and insecurities of her own which makes her character highly memorable.
14) TARAMANI:
The film is about an orthodox man falling in love with Althea, a free-spirited, single mother. They realize that they are very different from each other after getting engaged. Althea is represented as a liberal woman who does what is comfortable to her irrespective of what opinions others have on her. She wears what she is comfortable wearing even though she knows everyone is eyeing her. She is insulted and humiliated for not having a sexual preference and being a free-thinker. But none of that ever holds her back as she just ignores the naysayers and moves forward by being exactly the way she is.
