Sakshi Tanwar In Mai, Alia Bhatt As Gangubai: Best Female Characters Of 2022

A little over halfway through 2022, the year in movies so far has been intriguing. As cinema continues to strive to become more diverse with better female roles, we want to determine the movies that did it the best this year. We may not have it soon but let's stay hopeful to see this list grow year over year. Following are six films centered around the best female characters of 2022 so far.

Alia Bhatt - Gangubai Kathiawadi

Alia Bhatt in a still from Gangubai Kathiawadi

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi is loosely based on a true story from the book Mafia Queens Of Mumbai written by Hussain Zaidi with Jane Borges. The film documents the life of Gangubai (played by Alia Bhatt), a young girl from an affluent family sold into prostitution who goes on to become an activist and the “mafia queen” of Mumbai. Bhatt plays the titular role with so much swagger, resilience and entrenched complexity when required.

Sakshi Tanwar - Mai

A still from Mai | Netflix

In Mai, Sakshi Tanwar, one of Hindi television's favourite bahus takes on to the streets to avenge the death of her daughter. Tanwar’s sheer brilliance as an actor emerges as the biggest selling point for Atul Mongia’s directorial debut. She is grieving but full of anger and Sakshi makes sure she is convincing enough as the vulnerable mother and also as the wall-climbing vengeful assassin on a mission to find out her daughter's killers.

Aaditi Pohankar - She 2

Aaditi Pohankar In She (YouTube)

Conceptualised by Imtiaz and directed by Arif Ali, the second season of She is definitely an improvement from the first, with the central character of Bhumika (Pohankar) slowly coming into her own. As constable Bhumika Pardeshi, she’s bolder and smarter this season, even while she faces a constant struggle with morality and sexuality.

The thriller series reportedly has turned out to be a big audience favourite as it featured in the Top 10 of 11 countries within two weeks of its release. On the other hand, the character was also criticised for being portrayed through male-gaze.

Suggested Reading: At Best, She Season 2 Remains A Woman’s Story Told From A Male Gaze

Neetu Kapoor - JugJugg Jeeyo

Neetu Kapoor, Prajakata Koli, Anil Kapoor, Varun Dhawan in a still from Jug Jugg Jeeyo

In JugJugg Jeeyo, Neetu Kapoor with her calm demeanour captured the raw anguish of being stuck in a loveless marriage. While the film's shoddy treatment of infidietly is certainly a questionable aspect, it is Neetu Kapoor's striking poise that steals the show.

Petite Maman

Céline Sciamma's second directorial after Portrait of a Lady on Fire, Petite Maman, masterfully explores themes of grief and loss. Child actor Joséphine Sanz plays Nelly, the eight-year-old daughter of Marion (Nina Meurisse). The latter is under enormous stress. Marion’s mother has just died in a care home, from long-term complications of a hereditary bone disorder. Young Nelly artlessly asks her mum if she can keep her grandmother’s cane, and Marion blankly agrees.

Josephine Sanz occupies every frame of this film – either together or apart – and shows a remarkable ability for naturalist performance.

Michelle Yeoh - Everything Everywhere All at Once

Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once

Everything Everywhere All at Once gleefully plunges audiences into the anxiety of Evelyn Wang (Michelle Yeoh), who is a laundromat owner, troubled taxpayer, disappointing daughter, harried wife, lecturing mother, and potential saviour of all existence across the multiverses.

Though the idea of a multiverse and sci-fi narrative reels the viewer in, it is the story positioned around love, hope, acceptance and Wang's strong performance, that keeps us hooked to the screen.