9 Brilliant Female Characters From Indian Shows And Movies Who Astonished Us In 2020
Niharika has a passion for all things art, music, and travel and has over 4 years of experience in writing for social media. During her spare time, she likes experimenting in the kitchen, playing vide... read full bio
Banner Image Credit: Indian Express, Hindustan Times
If you grew up watching Indian cinema, be it Bollywood or regional cinema, you’d know the gigantic difference between the portrayals of men and women. In mainstream Bollywood films, female characters are often categorized into the role of eye candies or abla naris and very few shows and movies actually give them interesting backstories. 2020 however, was a pretty great year for female leads and other characters in popular movies and shows. Many of these characters had complex backstories and interesting plot lines. They held their own ground on screen with male actors and even commanded the audience’s attention. So let’s take a look at nine incredible female characters who blew our minds away in 2020:
1. Aarya Sareen In Aarya
Sushmita Sen made her first foray into the world of web shows in 2020 with the crime drama, Aarya. On the show, Sushmita plays a housewife who is pushed into the role of breadwinner and matriarch after the untimely death of her husband. Not only was Aarya an incredibly dedicated mother but she also donned the hats of a betrayed sister, a grieving wife, and a crime lord on her way up.
2. Bulbbul In Bulbbul
Bulbbul showcased the dark side of Indian society and showed how women are often treated as secondary citizens in their own homes. We saw how a Bulbbul challenged patriarchal notions at a time when women weren’t expected to know how to lead and survive by themselves. We see her grow up from a scared innocent little girl into a vibrant woman and her story is enthralling to witness.
3. Pushpavalli In Pushpavalli
Some people take their obsession with others to another level. Like moving to another city level. Pushpavalli is the story of a woman who takes her obsession with a man a little too far and gets embroiled in a messy situation. Season 2 of the show came out in early 2020 and got us even more hooked on the character of Pushpavalli. Played by talented comedian, Sumukhi Suresh, Pushpavalli is a hilarious tale of blunders and screw ups.
4. Radha Yadhav In Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare
Radha plays the quintessential housewife trapped in a relationship that is clearly dysfunctional but cannot seem to find a means of escape. Soon, she begins a secret relationship with a much younger man and crosses heads with her younger cousin, Kajal. Konkona Sen Sharma channels the character of Radha with an intense edge and has us gripping onto our popcorn during the arc of her storyline.
5. Upasana In Axone
Axone is the story of a group of friends who want to cook their traditional lunch and spend the day in merriment. Unfortunately, they live in a city that does not respect their culture and hence have to jump through many hoops and travel all across their city just to find a way to cook the food.
6. Fatima Begum In Gulabo Sitabo
The uber cool woman was the embodiment of rebellion and uniqueness in a sea of people who conform to society’s sensibilities. She proved to be far more self aware and intelligent than those around her. We hope to be half as incredible and wise at her age as she is then. What an inspiration! If you haven’t watched the movie, you should because you’re definitely gonna love Fatima Begum.
7. Manju Devi In Panchayat
Neena Gupta plays the role of Manju Devi like she was molded for it. The National Award winning actress wins the show as a woman who represents a generation of other women who wish to break the chains and fight against the patriarchal standards set into place by men.
8. Lata In A Suitable Boy
Although the entire show was set during a time that was right after independence, many of Lata’s coming-of-age struggles are something we can all relate to. She struggles to become sure of herself and tries to walk away from the gaze of her often overbearing mother. Her character is sweet in her innocence, and finds herself always needing to play by the books. Yet, we also see her rebel against her mother and stand her ground when needed.
9. Amrita Sabharwal In Thappad
Amrita’s story shows her taking a stand against her husband after he slapped her during an argument. With an emotionally astute performance, we see Taapsee play the role of Amrita with ease. She goes on to protect herself and become her own voice of reason in a world that would judge her so harshly because it was a “one time incident” and sticks to her decisions and beliefs. We see her rebel against a broken system and eventually beat it. Thappad truly would go nowhere without Taapsee’s phenomenal performance.
2020 sure did bring out some lovely and interesting characters for the rest of us to see. While it may have been one of the darker years for many of us, we hope that 2021 brings us a lot of entertainment and happiness. Do let us know which of these characters was your favorite in the comment section below.
