SHE – Women Characters in Hindi Cinema

Whether in real life or reel life, She/they, the woman/women, play many roles and have been heroines.

She has always been a part of movies- both in front of screen and behind the scenes.

Over the decades, there have been many women associated with cinema.

While we acknowledge the “Father of Indian Cinema”, the mothers get left behind.

However, the word CINEMA can never be possible without “MA” (Mother).

We have come a long way from the age when even female roles in movies were enacted by men.

Today, entertainment industry is also ruled by women.

Like she, Reshma/Silk, based on actress Silk Smitha, confidently states in her epic dialogue in the movie- The Dirty Picture:

“Three things are needed for a movie’s success- Entertainment, Entertainment and Entertainment; And I am Entertainment”.

Source

She is a Queen

Apart from the rule of Kings and heroes in movies like- Raja Harischandra, Baahubali and Shahenshah, we have also seen the rule of Queens and heroines like Razia Sultan, Manikarnika (Rani Lakshmibai) and Queen!

Tribute To Lata Mangeshkar

The voice can be found everywhere- over loudspeaker, on the radio, in the movie-songs, at the temple... The voice is still around and will remain so for generations, but the artist has breathed her last today.

The 'Nightingale of India', Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar, will be missed.

God had gifted her with so much talent and such a wonderful and melodious voice that was capable of doing justice to any and ever song.

Old to new, children or youth, she has been the voice for many.

Sushant Singh Rajput - Talented Star Shines On

A rank-holder with a brilliant and analytical mind, 

Chose acting & decided for the Bollywood grind.

He left his engineering course, without nitty gritty;

He rejected scholarship from a foreign University.

His good looks, hard-work, passion, screen presence, 

His raw energy, talent, boyish charms & smartness... 

He trained hard; his extra effort shines in all he did. 

He supported students & sponsored the less-privileged.

He inspired his fans, replied to messages & gave hope.

And then he had to face abuse, battle demons & cope...

He had a cool bucket-list; was already fulfilling dreams. 

Few saw his delicate frame & heard his inner screams.

His disarming smile hid deep secrets & gave no clue.

Many were unaware of what he was going through. 

Some caused/knew about this; couldn't stop him-

Circumstances are responsible for this step extreme. 

A very shocking & sad news for his fans lay in store-

That this dynamic complete entertainer is no more...

We mourn his loss; feel a family-member has gone far;

He'll continue to shine in our sky like a bright star.

Source: Amul on Twitter

Celebrating Forgiveness - 7 Hindi Movies

Forgiveness is a quality of the strong.
Many Hindi movies have shown the importance of forgiveness. Some movies have the protagonists deciding not to forgive. Except for a few examples in some movies, mostly parents or elders forgive their children or youngsters.
Here are 7 examples that illustrate this:

Maine Pyar Kiya - 
Hero's father mistreats his friend, the heroine's father. The latter takes his daughter, the heroine, away. It's a question of high and low status. The 'rich' lovelorn hero is ready to work for 'poor' pay to beg for forgiveness.
Does the heroine's father forgive his childhood friend, the hero's father?

Hasee To Phasee -
Heroine runs away from home by stealing her father's money to fund her scientist dreams. After she attains success, she lands up at her home.
Does her father forgive her?

Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham - 
'Rich' hero falls in love with 'poor' heroine and decides to marry her instead of the rich girl his dad has chosen for him. His costly love-marriage results in the hero getting ousted from his home.
Does his father forgive him?

Some Love Triangles In Bollywood Movies

There are many Hindi movies that have three lead actors in a love triangle. There can be either two heroes in love with one heroine or two heroines in love with one hero. Considering the uncomfortable chemistry between them, one tends to believe that three's a crowd.

One Heroine, Two Heroes i.e. Ek Heroine, Do Hero

In a love-triangle, someone has to sacrifice.  
When two heroes seek the attention of the same heroine, she has a tough choice.

One happens to be her love and the other is her responsibility due to a prior promise or allegiance. She explains her dilemma to the hero she loves and both are ready to sacrifice for the sake of duty or friendship.

Alcohol, Bollywood Movies And Society

Society does play an important role in our real life. The reel-life too is shaped by society.
Movies reflect the society.
This post illustrates this point with the example of drinking alcohol or getting drunk.

Society judges us for whatever we do. Newton's third law of Physics holds true.
'Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.'
The same action i.e. drinking alcohol has an equal and opposite reaction from the society (irrespective of whether the drinking is in real-life or in reel-life!)

There's a Bollywood song- 'Peene waalon ko peene ka bahaana chahiye' (Movie - 'Haath Ki Safai')
Meaning- Those who drink need an excuse to drink!

No matter what the reason, some people are always ready to drink no matter what the society says! Some examples-


I) When the hero knowingly tries to make the heroine guilty or vice-versa.
You are responsible for my alcoholic state! See me drink and suffer!
In a number of movies, the hero/heroine are shown to consume alcohol and stop doing so only after the intervention of their love-interest!

II) When the villain/hero tries to spike the drink to intoxicate the heroine or vice-versa.
The intention is anyone's guess.

'Hothon pe bas tera naam hai, Tujhe chahana mera kaam hai. Tere Pyar mein paagal hoon main subaha shyaam.' (Movie - 'Yeh Dillagi')
Meaning- There's only your name on my lips, Loving you is my work. I am crazy in your love morning and evening.

Women, Relationships And Hindi Movies

Jo dil se lagey, Ussey keh do- "Hi, Hi, Hi, Hi!" 

Jo dil na lagey, Ussey keh do- "Bye, Bye, Bye, Bye!" 

Aane do, aane do, Dil mein aa jaane do! 

Kehdo muskurahat ko- "Hi, Hi, Hi, Hi!" 

Jaane do, jaane do, Dil se chale jaane do! 

Keh do ghabrahat ko- "Bye, Bye, Bye, Bye!"

 - Lyrics of the song- "Love You Zindagi" from the Bollywood movie- Dear Zindagi. 

In the Hindi movies, Dear Zindagi & Queen, the female protagonists bid bye to relationships that they do not feel comfortable with. It may be noted that in the said movies, both the female leads- Kaira (played by Alia Bhatt) and Rani (played by Kangana Ranaut), are 'single' and can afford to take such a decision to end their relationship.

It seems it's the time for self-gratification and love for life. Saying 'Hi' to laughter and 'Bye'to tension is absolutely fine and permissible.

Thus, there are Hindi movie songs celebrating "Breakup"! 

"Let's breakup oh meri jaan!" (Let's breakup my sweetheart!) - Dear Zindagi

"Mere Saiyanji se aaj maine breakup kar diya!" (I broke up with my beau!)- Aye Dil Hai Mushkil

Seems like apart from the singletons, a breakup isn't too mushkil (tough) for the married females too viz. in the Hindi movie Aye Dil Hai Mushkil, both the female leads Alizeh and Saba (played by Anushka Sharma & Aishwarya Rai respectively) leave their husbands' homes to live independently in their dream home. 

Even in Bollywood movies like Barfii, Chalte Chalte, Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, Arth etc the unhappy wives have walked out of unfulfilling relationships. Perhaps they found no arth (meaning) in a meaningless and loveless marriage...