International Women’s Day: The most empowering heroines seen on-screen

There’s a reason Netflix has a sub-category for films featuring strong female leads (“women who rule the screen”)—who wouldn’t want to see a great actress dig into a meaty role instead of simply playing the loving wife or doting mother? This International Women’s Day, Vogue shortlists the films that ace the Bechdel test thanks to the brave, powerful and complicated female characters at their centre.

Bollywood films with strong women in the lead

Sridevi in English Vinglish

A tribute to mothers everywhere, English Vinglish saw Sridevi attempting to connect with her reel-life husband and daughter by learning a completely new language. What makes the late actor’s character ever-so-enjoyable is a notable absence of unnecessary glorification—Shashi Godbole (played by Sridevi) embraced every aspect of being herself in the film, be it wearing a sari on the streets of New York or indulging in her love for Indian food. This slice-of-life adaptation gives voice to the daily struggle of a homemaker, who often goes unappreciated for her efforts.

Kangana Ranaut in Queen

Remember that scene where Kangana Ranaut sat outside a bar with Lisa Haydon and complained about her life? Most of us do. While we may have imitated the scene to add comic value to a difficult situation in our daily lives, hidden under the comical scenes of the film was an attempt to create a shift in society’s perspective on marriage. Ranaut’s character Rani came from a traditional Indian family, but when faced with the reality of a failed marriage, she packed her bags and went on her honeymoon alone—proving to women everywhere that they can, in fact, control their own narrative. The film focused on self-love, the idea of not looking at marriages (or the lack of them) as the end of the world, and living a fulfilled life regardless of society’s expectations, and that’s what touched the hearts of millions around the world.

Rani Mukerji in No One Killed Jessica

The cold-blooded murder of Jessica Lal was a shock to the whole country, and the struggle to get her justice was definitely not an easy one—considering it was first dismissed as an open-and-shut case. Raj Kumar Gupta’s No One Killed Jessica highlights every part of the controversy and features Rani Mukerji as Meera, a bold journalist who remains unfazed by the pressures of society and fights to bring the truth to light. The film’s leading ladies Vidya Balan and Rani Mukerji both play distinctively different characters, but the drive they showcase towards achieving a common goal speaks volumes about what woman can achieve together.

Kareena Kapoor Khan in Jab We Met

Don’t we all wish we had a friend like Geet in our lives? Kareena Kapoor Khan‘s bold character in Jab We Met was a free spirit in the truest sense. She did not let her love for family dictate her life, and even went on to deal with the rejections she faced independently. The Imtiaz Ali-directed film taught us about love, loss and life, and reminded us that women can find ways to survive anything, even if we’re doing it all by ourselves.

Vidya Balan in The Dirty Picture

Not only did The Dirty Picture cement Vidya Balan’s position as one of the strongest female actors in the country, it also earned her the National Award. Balan has never shied away from making bold choices with her roles, and this movie serves as proof. An earlier interview with a news publication saw Balan speaking about the idea of sexuality that Silk Smitha stood for. “People think Silk was bold only because she used to dress up or pose in certain way, but this was one part of her fearlessness. Some even felt she was shameless but I don’t think she was. Today, girls are in complete command of their life and sexuality… they are unapologetic and take pride in whatever they do. Silk was like that back then. And which is why she was misunderstood and people exploited that in a wrong way,” she’d said.

Priyanka Chopra in Mary Kom

This female-centred biopic has ’empowerment’ written all over it. Inspired by the life of real-life boxing champ MC Mary Kom, the Priyanka Chopra-starrer came with the message that if you’re willing to work hard, no obstacle is ever too big to overcome. Along with setting a precedent for female strength, the film also shows how the support of a good partner—Mary Kom’s husband (played by Darshan Kumar) had a key role in her success—is key.

Taapsee Pannu in Pink

All the feminists in the room rejoiced when they saw a bold Amitabh Bachchan stand up for a woman’s right to live as she pleased in a free country, and spotlight how society needs to stop judging and patronising women for their choices. Pink started conversations around why women in one of the world’s biggest democracies still feel unsafe on their own land. Taapsee Pannu’s portrayal of Minal, a victim of molestation and sexual harassment, who fights a harrowing court battle, not only proved her mettle as an actor, but also gave a realistic view of what life for a woman is like in this era.

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja in Neerja

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja-starrer Neerja tells the story how flight attendant Neerja Bhanot laid down her life 32 years ago to save those of 359 others on a PanAm flight. While her story is not an unknown one, it was important that a biopic based on her life displayed Bhanot as who she was—a simple middle class woman who turned into a national hero. In honour of Bhanot, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja tweeted about her bravery when the film completed two years, writing “Even today, the heroism and bravery of Neerja Bhanot continues to move me. It was an honour to play her and pay homage to her indelible memory. #2YearsOfNeerja.”

Madhuri Dixit Nene in Gulaab Gang

Madhuri Dixit Nene’s comeback role in 2014 was nothing short of a power-packed action performance. Gulaab Gang is crime drama based on real-life Gulaab Gang leader Sampat Pal Devi’s journey, who brought in a revolution by prompting a group of women to fight for the their rights and rid themselves of the barriers made by patriarchy. A film driven by not one but two female actors (Gulaab Gang stars both Madhuri Dixit Nene and Juhi Chawla in leading roles), this one is a salute to the power of women everywhere.

Hollywood films with strong women in the lead

Sigourney Weaver in Alien

Image: Alamy

It’s nearly 40 years since the release of Ridley Scott’s genre-defining sci-fi blockbuster that launched Sigourney Weaver’s career. The part was originally written for a man, but Scott’s decision to cast Weaver turned Ellen Ripley into a cultural touchstone—a rare female action hero in a sea of homogenous muscly men. Weaver reprised the role in Aliens (1986), Alien 3 (1992) and Alien: Resurrection (1997), and ever since the image of her in a boiler suit clutching a pulse rifle has become legend.

Daniela Vega in A Fantastic Woman

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Chilean director Sebastián Lelio’s sensitive portrayal of a transgender woman living in Santiago, earned him his country’s first Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film in 2018. It stars Daniela Vega as Marina, a young waitress and singer coming to terms with the loss of her lover and trying to deal with his hostile family. The film delves into issues of transphobia, prejudice and the nature of womanhood, but also functions as a poignant love story. Filmed in long fluid takes, it has a bold colour palette and a touch of magical realism, thanks to the work of cinematographer Benjamín Echazarreta. Vega, meanwhile, is a vision of strength and resilience—a woman who refuses to be silenced no matter the cost.

Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

Image: Rex Features

There are several contenders for best fight scene in contemporary cinema (Russell Crowe in Gladiator, Matt Damon in The Bourne Ultimatum, Uma Thurman versus Lucy Liu in Kill Bill), but the face-off between Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon certainly comes close. Meticulously choreographed with aerial stunts and innovative camerawork, it showcases the considerable talents of its two female leads who play warriors on a quest to find a legendary sword in Qing Dynasty China. Yeoh soars above the rest as the composed and clinical Yu Shu Lien.

Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2: Judgment Day

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Sarah Connor’s transformation from timid college student to hardened fighter is reason enough to watch James Cameron’s explosive Terminator franchise. Linda Hamilton made the role her own, swapping her pastel shirts and big eighties hair for a sleek ponytail, black tank top and sunglasses. Game of Thrones alumni Lena Headey and Emilia Clarke have both played Connor, in the 2008 television series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and 2015’s Terminator Genisys respectively, but few can measure up to Hamilton. She returns to the role this year in Terminator: Dark Fate, due for release in November 2019.

Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury Road

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Imperator Furiosa has plenty to be angry about: an energy crisis that’s turned her home into a barren wasteland, a tribe of war boys out to kill her and a tyrannical ruler who has enslaved women to bear his children. When she rescues his wives and drives off into the desert it sparks a high-octane chase featuring masked bikers, sandstorms and a truck fronted by a flame-throwing electric guitarist. George Miller’s post-apocalyptic road movie puts women front and centre. The titular Max, played by a monosyllabic Tom Hardy, is overshadowed by Charlize Theron who is fierce and determined as Furiosa, hell bent on saving the day and sowing the seeds for a matriarchal future.

Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz in The Favourite

Image: Alamy

Image: Alamy

Image: Alamy

Olivia Colman may have won this year’s Oscar for Best Actress with her hilarious and heartbreaking portrayal of Queen Anne, but Yorgos Lanthimos’ offbeat royal drama actually has three leads: Rachel Weisz is power-hungry Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, and Emma Stone plays scheming newcomer Abigail Masham. Complex, ambitious and smart, they are all capable of navigating politics, wielding shotguns and outmanoeuvring one another. In a feminist twist, it’s the men in the film who are painted fops in powdered wigs. When Nicholas Hoult’s politician Harley yells at Lady Sarah, she smiles and says, “Your mascara is running. If you’d like to go fix yourself, we can continue this later”.

Bette Davis in All About Eve

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“Fasten your seat belts. It’s going to be a bumpy night.” So says Margo Channing, the perennial drama queen and Broadway actress extraordinaire played by Bette Davis in All About Eve. Every night with Margo is a whirlwind—an ageing star who is never without a dry Martini or a clever jibe, she is at turns warm and generous while also being deeply insecure, jealous and paranoid about those who might steal the spotlight from her. Enter Eve, a wide-eyed ingénue played by Anne Baxter who becomes her assistant and slowly encroaches on her career, with disastrous consequences. Davis worked in Hollywood for more than 50 years, garnering 11 Oscar nominations and winning two, but Margo Channing remains the role of a lifetime.

Mya Taylor in Tangerine

Image: Rex Features

Sean Baker’s bittersweet Sundance hit made headlines for being shot on an iPhone, but it’s anything but gimmicky. The film follows two transgender sex workers, played by Mya Taylor and Kitana Kiki Rodriguez, who travel across Los Angeles to track down a cheating boyfriend. Darting into doughnut shops, dive bars and burger joints, Baker captures the city’s fascinating underbelly, but it’s the two lead performances that stand out. Upon the film’s release in 2015, Taylor, a revelation as aspiring singer Alexandra, became the first openly transgender actress to win both an Independent Spirit Award and a Gotham Award.

Taraji P Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe in Hidden Figures

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The forgotten story of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson—three pioneering scientists who helped NASA win the space race—was the subject of Theodore Melfi’s 2016 drama. Taraji P Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monáe play the impressive trio with wit and verve, as they contend with racial segregation, workplace sexism and prejudiced colleagues. The result is an inspiring tale about overcoming adversity that highlights the importance of re-examining recent history to find those who might have been written out of it.

Noomi Rapace in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Image: Rex Features

Noomi Rapace was the original Lisbeth Salander, the hacker and surveillance agent subsequently reinvented by Rooney Mara in 2011 and Claire Foy in 2018. The 2009 Swedish thriller is an unflinching adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s novel, that sees Salander go to great lengths to solve a mystery regarding the disappearance of a young girl. Pierced and tattooed with jet-black hair and kohl-rimmed eyes, she refuses to be an object of the male gaze. She does nothing by halves and no one stands in her way for long: whether she’s blackmailing sexual abusers or emptying the bank accounts of corrupt tycoons, in all her iterations the character has become a divisive, and somewhat reluctant, feminist icon.

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