Women’s Equality Day: 5 Powerful Films that Defy Patriarchy

‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’, ‘Fakt Mahilao Maate’, ‘Dhak Dhak’, ‘Thappad’ and ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ celebrate the female perspective on life

On Women’s Equality Day, as we are deluged with a relentless news cycle about horrific gender crimes, meaningful cinema offers some respite with empowering messages. These films reflect on the ongoing fight for gender equality, challenge patriarchy and question the oppressive systems that hold women back. Headlined by strong female characters, these films kindle hope and inspire us to improve society.

‘Lipstick Under My Burkha”

Alankrita Shrivastava is fast becoming a disruptor in the largely male-centric space of Hindi cinema with her bold, fearless articulation of female desire.  ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ won the Spirit of Asia Prize and the Oxfam Award for Best Film on Gender Equality and tells the story of four women struggling to free themselves of barriers that society and their own families have imposed upon them. A widow in her fifties, a tailor’s daughter who is expected to suppress her dreams of becoming a rock star, a housewife married to a sexually abusive man and an ambitious beautician then find a way to defy their circumstances. As they take a stand for themselves and each other, they inspire us to do the same.  ‘Lipstick Under My Burkha’ stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Konkona Sen Sharma, Aahana Kumra and Plabita Borthakur. Produced by Prakash Jha, Shobha Kapoor and Ekta Kapoor, the film can be watched on Amazon Prime Video.

 ‘Fakt Mahilao Maate’ (Gujarati)

This Anand Pandit production struck gold in 2022 for its heartwarming message advocating for harmony between the two genders. A miraculous boon enables Chintan Parikh, a 28-year-old middle-class man to hear the inner thoughts of women who he sometimes judges harshly. Initially overwhelmed by so many colliding voices, he decides to use this power to understand human relationships better. Along the way, he gains an insight into women’s struggles, desires, and challenges. The humour-filled film encourages deep introspection and stars Amitabh Bachchan, Yash Soni, Deeksha Joshi and Tarjanee Bhadla. It is directed by Jay Bodas and is available on ShemarooMe .

 ‘Thappad’

Anubhav Sinha’s ‘Thappad’ refuses to normalise domestic violence and asks why even one slap should be brushed away as a minor incident by the humiliated wife. The film’s protagonist is  Amrita,  a devoted homemaker whose life revolves around the needs of her husband and her mother-in-law. When her husband slaps her at a party that she has organised for him, Amrita refuses to take it in her stride. She begins to look at her marriage through a new lens and realizes how unequal her marital relationship was.  Starring Taapsee Pannu, Pavail Gulati, Dia Mirza, Ratna Pathak Shah and Tanvi Azmi, ‘Thappad’ is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar and Anubhav Sinha. It can be watched on Amazon Prime Video.

‘Dhak Dhak’

Arguably the first mainstream road movie featuring female actors from different generations, ‘Dhak Dhak’ touches upon many issues like sexual suppression, ageism and the lack of freedom that women experience once they become wives and mothers. Written and directed by Tarun Dudeja and produced by Ajit Andhare, Kevin Vaz, Pranjal Khandhdiya and Taapsee Pannu, it gives us four women protagonists who are struggling to discover who they are beyond their duties. As they drive their bikes across challenging terrains to the highest motorable pass in the world, they find strength within and a sisterhood they can rely upon. Starring Ratna Pathak Shah, Dia Mirza, Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanjana Sanghi, ‘Dhak Dhak’ can be watched on Netflix.

‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ (Malayalam)

This path-breaking Malayalam film written and directed by Jeo Baby, smashes the notion that kitchen chores should be romanticised or that women should spend a large part of their lives, cooking and feeding their families. It focuses on the subjugation of a newly-wed woman (Nimisha Sajayan) who is expected to cook three days a meal from scratch while her husband and father-in-law do not even lift a finger to help her. A blocked drain becomes a metaphor for unarticulated anger and one day, she does something that nobody expected her to do.  The film won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film, Best Screenplay award for Baby and Best Sound Designer award for Tony Babu. Also starring. Suraj Venjaramoodu, ‘The Great Indian Kitchen’ is produced by Mankind Cinemas, Symmetry Cinemas and Cinema Cooks. It can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.