This is a list of web series and films that revolve around women with unique characteristics and realistic problems which depict strength, positivity, revenge without the stereotypical image that’s been popularised through old thought and objectification. The year 2021 marks not just a new year but also kickstarts a new decade altogether. As we stream through this new decade with a tabular rasa, we hope to engage with some path-breaking cinema that shall hopefully elevate an overall entertainment experience for us. While we wait to find what 2021 unfolds, let us look back at the past decade and reminisce what we loved!
Kill Bill Vol 1 & 2
A tale of revenge in the most stereotypical ways, it was really the first time we saw Uma Therman just obliterate her adversaries as The Bride. Her character is faced with the biggest adversities and she really knocks it out of the park. The Kill Bill series is one of the first movies which portrays a woman to be so brutally relentless and really metaphosized strength in the most creative of ways.
Queen
This film is truly a gem with respect to Kangana Ranaut’s acting! Her performance in this film ended up being the best for that year, swooping all the awards and getting heavy praise from her critics. It’s a coming of age story with a lot of relatability and connection with its audience. It shows a powerful take on independence. Her character aptly names Rani goes through a last-minute rejection as her fiancé breaks it off. This film is Rani’s redemption after a heartbreak and beating society’s expectations for a jolly good time.
Lipstick Under My Burkha
This film is groundbreaking with terms of the stories presented in the plot. It intertwines 4 stories of four women who go through an array of trouble because of the patriarchal societal structure. This is a dark comedy on women’s issues which is the first of its kind in the Indian film industry and must watch because of its right structure and punch lines
Secret superstar
A film about dreams of a schoolgirl becoming a famous singer. This film takes us on a journey of Insia Malik, a Girl from a conservative Muslim family with traditional values. Insia works around these expectations and gets famous on YouTube through her songs whilst wearing an Abaya (Muslim garb) and she goes through a roller coaster of events eventually becoming a Star.
Fleabag
This series is the best comedy out of the late 2010s. It’s a web series about a woman going through a heavy sexual phase while dealing with her own issues with her family and her past. It consists of real dark themes and really funny situations which are accented with a “breaking the fourth wall” style of narration from the lead character played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge simply known as Fleabag. This show displays a black belt level wit in its dialogues and will have you in serious adrenaline-induced splits.
The Marvellous Mrs Maisel
Mrs Maisel is a happy go lucky person who sees her life turn around after she discovers her husband’s affair with another woman. Out of regret and anger, she ends up on a stand-up comedy stage which turns out to be her true calling. This show details her growth after her family falls apart. A unique coming of age story with colourful female characters is really interesting because it takes place in the late ’50s, so to watch serious norms being smashed through modern writing is quite an entertaining experience.
The list truly never ends! While we hope for more such stories of empowerment to be brewed on our OTTs, tell us some of your favs from your “must watch” list!