The most impactful women-centric films of 2020

The biopic on Shakuntala Devi, the Human-Computer, with Vidya Balan in the leading role, had released in May this year. Directed by Anu Menon, the film also starred Sanya Malhotra in a key role. The first look revealed Balan sporting a short bob haircut, calculating sums on her fingertips. This movie aims to celebrate the woman who made math fun. Vidya, with her remarkable acting skills, has always managed to move the audiences.

The sports drama film directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari starred Kangana Ranaut in the lead role. It is the story of a former Kabaddi player who struggles to make a comeback to the sport she loves while managing her middle-class family. This is pretty much the story of most sportswomen trying to balance their personal lives and sports career. The emotional roller-coaster tale was released on 24 January. However, what makes her story different is, unlike Bollywood's favourite trope of selfless and sacrificing mothers, she is conflicted about her decision, and even partly regrets it.

Directed by Meghna Gulzar, Chhapaak that released on January 10 was based on the life and triumph of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal. It narrates how she faces society after her ordeal and ultimately accepts life and herself, fighting for the ban on the sale of acid. Deepika Padukone portrays the role of Malti, the protagonist. Besides, Vickrant Massey is seen playing the lead opposite Deepika.

To begin with, it is a movie about a woman that remains a movie about that woman. There is no love interest, no knight in shining armour. The only man who finds an important place in the character's life is her father, albeit as strong support, the character played by Pankaj Tripathi. Gunjan showed that courage, grit, stamina, strength, doesn’t come bundled with the concept of masculinity. That itself was such a breath of fresh air! However, there was a lot of controversy over the film portraying false scenes about ill-treatment of females in the Air Force.

Though this movie is not a women-oriented but the character of Fatto, who seen as Amitabh Bacchan’s wife in the film, proves that what men can do, women can do better, and with a quiet sunglassed sass! She is the woman who has the last laugh, quite literally. Her fragile appearance seldom betrays her true grit. You can dismiss her off as a cute and funny old woman.

Based on Hussain Zaidi’s novel Mafia Queens of Mumbai, this Alia Bhatt starrer Gangubai Kathiawadi is directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Gangubai Kothewali, known as the ‘Madam of Kamathipura’, was a matriarch brothel owner in the 60s. She was concerned about the life of sex workers and was one of the most influential pimps of Mumbai due to the underworld connections she had. The film forays into a bold issue that is hardly paid heed to. The film was supposed to release in September this year, but has been postponed due to the pandemic.

The biographical movie based on life of actor Jayalalithaa who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for over fourteen years stars Kangana Ranaut in the lead role. The film was scheduled to release in three languages, Tamil, Telugu, and Hindi in June 2020. However, it expected to make its way on the big screen next year, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandmeic. Ranaut, owing to the exemplary makeup, looks unrecognizable in the first teaser that was released earlier this year.