To help you guys make the most of this Women’s Day, we’ve compiled a list of must-watch movies with prominent female characters that take charge and become the heroes of their own lives. Read on for some serious inspiration!
1) 'Legally Blonde’
Of course, this one tops our list. Breaking all kinds of stereotypes about ‘girls like her’ (pretty and popular), Elle Woods heads off to Harvard Law School (what? Like it’s hard?) right after being dumped. Not just that, she works hard and proves that she deserves to be there. Did someone say beauty with brains?
2) ‘Mardaani’
A female police inspector working to uncover a child trafficking ring – what part of this sentence isn’t empowering and hugely uplifting? That’s right, none! Mardaani stars Rani Mukerji in the lead role and is one of the finest female-centric films to come out of Bollywood in recent times.
3) ‘I Feel Pretty’
A light-hearted watch for those that aren’t looking for a tear-jerker, I Feel Pretty focuses on the societal constructs of beauty. Amy Schumer’s take on people’s expectations is bound to lift you up and make you recall the fact that looks really aren’t everything.
4) ‘Hidden Figures’
This aptly-named film follows the work of three brilliant women of colour who were the driving force behind America’s space race with Russia. They were also responsible for getting John Glenn into space – he was the first American to orbit the Earth in 1961. Talk about genius!
5) ‘Erin Brockovich’
This re-telling of the real-life story of a boss woman taking down the Pacific Gas and Electric Company is one that every girl should watch. Not only is Erin – played by the delectable Julia Roberts – an inspiration because she blows the whistle on a huge company, she also does that being just herself! Now that’s something to aspire to.
6) ‘Gulaab Gang
Featuring a gang of women clad in pink who take on issues like domestic violence, dowry, rape, and women’s education, this film is a ride in its entire entirety. From the fierce Gulaab Gang to its adversary (played by Juhi Chawla), this film has no shortage of incredible female performances.
7) ‘Queen’
This particular project put Kangana Ranaut back on the radar for those who had given up on her career – which is sad in itself because the girl has some serious talent. It not only turned things around for the Bollywood beauty but also for a number of girls who found their voice in Rani, a small-town simpleton who heads off on her European honeymoon alone after her fiance leaves her at the altar. Talk about girl power!
8) ‘Suffragette’
If there’s any film that’s more relevant to the social climate in Pakistan right now, this would be it. While it chronicles the struggles of British women in the early 1900s, rallying for their right to vote, women today have other issues to deal with. And the movement is just as important today.
9) ‘Dukhtar’
A tormented mother’s struggle to save her daughter from child marriage makes for a stunning piece of moving cinema and Dukhtar is proof of that. A young mother on the road with her 10-year-old with tribal chieftains hot on their heels will make you realise just how hard some women have it in our part of the world. As always, Samiya Mumtaz delivers an epic performance in this gut-wrenching drama.
10) ‘Dangal’
It’s heartening to see a father back up his daughters to do what he couldn’t, especially in a society that looks down upon women entering places designated for men. Dangal is one such watch that will make you want to achieve something big, just like the real-life Mahavir Singh Phogat and his daughters did (nailing the Commonwealth Games for wrestling - a sport that is primarily for men). Girl power? We think so!
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