Salute to Bollywood Queens on International Women's Day

International Women’s Day is celebrated every year on 8th of March all across the world to focus the achievements and commemorate the contributions of the women to the society. The theme of this year’s campaign says “Balance for Better” and the Bollywood is poised to celebrate this event all throughout the year with multiple women-centric movies. Meghna Gulzar’s ‘Chhapaak’ is based on the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. In ‘Saina’, the biopic of Indian badminton player Saina Nehwal, Shraddha Kapoor plays the leading role. Priyanka Chopra will feature in ‘The Sky is Pink’, a film based on the life of motivational speaker late Aisha Chaudhary who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis and passed away at the age of 18. In the film ‘Kargil Girl’, Janhvi Kapoor will be paying tributes to Gunjan Saxena, India’s first ever woman combat pilot. ‘Saand Ki Aankh’ is based on the lives of Chandro and Prakashi Tomar, the two octogenarian Indian women sharpshooters.

Since the advent of Cinema in India, a host of silver screen-goddesses have mesmerized the audience through their portrayal of different characters. A warm salute to the women, who dreamed, dared and carved a niche for themselves in an industry dominated by men.

In 1930s, actresses like Devika Rani and Zubeidaa ruled the Indian cinema. Nargis, the Mother India, was the first recipient of the Best Actress Urvashi Award in 1968. Suraiya, the first Melody Queen of the Bollywood, was applauded by Jawaharlal Nehru for putting life in the soul of ‘Mirza Ghalib’. Meena Kumari, the tragedy queen of the 60s, had gained a cult status for her beauty and acting skills. One of the most charismatic heroine, Madhubala was adored world over. Nutan was known for her unconventional roles and powerful performances that won her several accolades. Vyjayanthimala, earned the title ‘Twinkletoes’ for her super-hit dance numbers. Waheeda Rahman is well known for many iconic performances in award-winning movies.

Sadhana, a trendsetter, was nicknamed ‘The Mystery Girl’ for her roles in suspense thrillers like Woh Kaun Thi?, Mera Saya and Anita. The “Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu” girl, Helen, brought in a breath of fresh air into the film industry with her exotic looks. Saira Banu, the poised and ever-so-graceful set the silver screen on fire with her regal beauty. Sharmila Tagore, was the first Indian actress to wear a bikini onscreen in ‘An Evening in Paris’(1967). ‘The Dreamgirl’ Hema Malini, has donned many hats. She is an accomplished Bharatnatyam dancer whose grace and skills are unparallel. Zeenat Aman’s mysterious beauty went on to get her on the cover of all the glamour magazines. Rekha’s mystery derives from her evergreen beauty and inimitable demeanor. She has always been the symbol of a strong and graceful woman in an industry ruled by men.

Shabana Azmi, a women’s rights activist, has received the National Film Award for Best Actress five times, the highest for any actor. Smita Patil, the feminist and leading actress of parallel cinema, was not a run-of-the-mill beauty. Sridevi was regarded as the first female superstar of Bollywood. ‘Dhak Dhak’ girl, Madhuri Dixit, has a 100-watt smile, superb dance moves and top-notch acting. Tabu, the Leggy South Indian beauty, is known for her discerning choices in taking up movie projects.

Aishwarya Rai is possibly the most beautiful face in Indian cinema. Karishma Kapoor has portrayed brilliant roles like those in Zubeidaa, Fiza and Dil To Pagal Hai. Kajol went against the grain by playing a negative role in ‘Gupt’ and a powerful avenger in ‘Dushman’. Vidya Balan is the ultimate new-age Bollywood diva. Be it her curves in ‘The Dirty Picture’ or a baby-bump in ‘Kahaani’, she carries everything with abundant confidence.

Bipasha Basu, a model turned actress, is known for her sizzling item numbers. Konkona Sen Sharma’s earthy looks and fine acting have helped her get a number of awards. A fiery, perfectionist and beautiful, Kareena Kapoor has reinvented herself as the most versatile female lead in an industry dominated by its leading males. Priyanka Chopra, Miss World, is the highest paid actress, having been paid a whopping 9 crores for ‘Zanjeer’ remake. Sonam Kapoor, a fashionista, is one of the best-dressed celebs in tinsel town. Kangana, famous for playing psychotic roles on-screen is also known for her psychotic behavior off-screen as well. Anushka Sharma, is the burgeoning star among the young Bollywood brigade.

Not only the women have dominated the acting arena in Bollywood, but they have also excelled in other fields of film-making. The women who created movie magic, behind the scenes were: Fatima Begum established herself as a top-notch actor, writer, producer and director. Devika Rani, a popular star, co-founded the iconic Bombay Talkies studio. Ishrat Sultana, was the first female music composer of Bollywood. Jaddan Bai, Saraswati Devi and Usha Khanna have earned name and fame as music directors. Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle are the light-houses of playback singing. Bhanu Athaiya, a costume designer, had virtual monopoly in this department, winning an Oscar for her work in Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi (1982).

The present generation writer-directors like Zoya Akhtar, Meghna Gulzar, Reema Kagti and Anusha Rizvi, editor Bela Saigal, lyricist Kausar Munir and composer Sneha Khanwalkar are some of the off screen wizards whose names are synonymous with memorable movies. Anjuli Shukla is the first woman camera person in India to win the National Film Award for Best Cinematography of ‘Kutty Srank’ (2010).   

Achhut Kanya, Jeevan Prabhat, Nirmala,  Alam Ara, Chitralekha, Aurat, Mother India, Parineeta, among others are some of the movies with woman-centric themes. Topping the list is Mehboob Khan’s ‘Mother India’ (1957). The film narrates the agony of a poverty-stricken village woman named Radha in a most pathetic manner. ‘Aisha’ (2010), inspired from Jane Austen novel ‘Emma’ is probably the first mainstream Bollywood movie which is female-dominated. It is produced by Rhea Kapoor, directed by Rajshree Ojha with screenplay by Devika Bhagat and stars Sonam Kapoor, Ira Dubey and Lisa Hayden.

Rani Mukerji's inspirational role of a deaf and mute girl in Black (2005) won her many accolades. Deepa Mehta’s Water (2005) was a tale of forbidden love between a widow and a social reformer. The Namesake (2007) defined Tabu's impressive ability to shoulder films with the conviction. Fashion (2008), Madhur Bhandarkar's hard-hitting saga of a small town girl's rise as a supermodel and then the tripping over drugs and the fall. That Girl In Yellow Boots (2011) Kalki Koechlin's made-to-order role as a foreigner trying to eke out a decent living in Mumbai through underhand means in a massage parlour was a portrait of peril under pressure. Sridevi's comeback film, English Vinglish (2012) featured her as a housewife on a journey of self-realization. In Heroine (2012), Kareena Kapoor's descent into a cocaine-sniffing nervous wreck of a movie star was stark, raw and moving. In Queen (2014), Kangana Ranaut's interpretation of a girl's journey through darkness into the light is so bouncy, bubbly and burnished.

Most of the film makers, lewd and sexist towards women, indulge in unhealthy objectification of women through forced rape-scenes and vulgar song picturisation. Some of crude examples are: The song “Chikni Chameli..” Agneepath (2012), with cringe-worthy lyrics and Katrina Kaif dancing amid a bunch of boys who are ogling at her with lustful eyes, topped the charts back in 2012. ‘Lak 28 Kudi Da..’ (Yo Yo Honey Singh-2011) song, with its catchy beats and periodic moaning by a woman in the background, again reduces women merely to their body. In the song ‘Fevicol Se..’ (Dabangg 2-2012), Kareena Kapoor is showing off her titillating dance moves to pull audiences to the cinema halls. ‘Chittiyan Kalaiyan..’, (Roy-2015), shamelessly indulges in colourism and Jacqueline Fernandez has no qualms in using her fair-skinned wrists as a tool to lure. ‘Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast..’ (Mohra-1994), played havoc as it became a tool for the roadside eve-teasers.

It was only in the past few years that producers have finally begun trusting the women power to back projects with female solo leads. Be it Kangana Ranaut’s Queen and Simran or Vidya Balan’s Tumhari Sulu, Sonam Kapoor’s Neeraja or Madhuri Dixit’s Gulaab Gang. Bollywood has come a long way indeed from having women merely as eye-candies to actually bagging meaningful roles. The films like ‘Naam Shabana’ and ‘Raazi’ showed how filmmakers are now trying to push the envelope to have female-led films. Women are no more second fiddle. Happy International Women’s Day 2019!!!