Shruti To Safeena: These Supporting Female Actors Deserve Their Standalone Films

As subsidising female actors, women take on a different role from the key characters and are typically not the main plot point. By participating in significant story developments or character arcs, supporting actors "support" the lead actors, but they should never overshadow them or take centre stage. These actors frequently play characters in some shows who are bizarre or otherwise remarkable for particular traits.

A supporting actor can nevertheless play a crucial role in the plot and may spend a lot of time on the screen or stage, unlike the main performers. It is a significant position, and organisations that bestow awards frequently acknowledge it as such. However for some female characters, especially in Bollywood films, there have been several underwhelming developments throughout the history of Indian cinema.

Supporting Female Actors In Bollywood

It is true that even though they often play supporting roles, they consistently raise the bar with each and every performance they provide. But the way their characters are written does not demonstrate that they are the only people who have mastered the art of acting and are suitable for playing the lead. Regardless, some of these women actors rose from the ashes to become blazing phoenixes or undiscovered jewels in the midst of the continually booming profession. From Konkona Sen Sharma as Shruti in Anurag Basu's Life In A Metro to Alia Bhatt as Safeena Firdausi in Gully Boy, we are confident that these characters could have had a lot more substance and depth in them than what met the eye.

Shruti in Life In A Metro

The film centred around the metro is the tale of people who make things happen, those who want things to happen, and people who wish things would happen. They find that their emotional lives have been completely destroyed in their haste to accomplish their goals. Konkona plays the role of Shruti, 30, who, in her head, describes herself as "still single" and "a virgin." Anurag Basu portrayed her as someone who is miserable and obsessed with marriage and having a sex life - as someone who is afraid that her "cool" colleagues might judge her because she is "still a virgin."

When she gets involved with an RJ who uses her to conceal his sexuality, she decides to leave her job. The movie concludes with the predictable union between her and Monty (played by Irrfan Khan) - the same man who disturbed her with his gaze on their first date. The film has more flaws than its ways of portraying urban existential angst. For starters, Konkona's character was poorly written when it could have been way better and more interesting. Why can she not be someone who was desperate to have a better and more focused career instead of being desperate to get married, that too with the man who kept sexualising her in his head?

Safeena in Gully Boy

To decode Safeena's character in Gully Boy, putting on a modest outfit and a tight-fitting Muslim head covering, she is portrayed as someone who is not a lone exception to a stereotype. She might be a medical student, and her father might be a doctor. However, she informs Murad that her dream is to marry him before becoming a surgeon. Her innocent smile conceals a fierce temper and unbridled jealously toward possible rivals for Murad's love interests. She assaults girls who are interested in him physically in two moments that are more comedy than drama. Her character may not be a sex object for the camera but could have been better and more patiently framed.

Brinda in Antaheen

The reasons behind Brinda's character's (played by Radhika Apte) tragic demise are not fully explored in Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury's aesthetic narrative, leaving it up to the viewer to draw their own conclusions. The narrative focuses on how beautifully Abhik and Brinda connect with online discussions about Frida Kahlo's artwork, relationships, and the tale of a kite struggling to break free from wires. This connection makes them worry about their relationship in the real world. The film's creativity is found in its deep discussions on life's decisions, allusions to photography and rain clouds, and the reluctance to make sacrifices in interpersonal relationships. The"> music by Shantanu Moitra supports the film and ties the plot and characters together.

Suggested Reading: Kajol Says OTT Platforms Acknowledge Talent And Not Waist Size. Is It True?

Usha Parmar in Lipstick Under My Burkha

The movie's real foray towards comedy occurs in Buaji Usha's Her portrayal of the complex Usha cannot be considered a show-stealer, despite the excellent performances by the entire group. She is called asexual since she cares for her grandchildren, fights against builders who want to tear down her historic home during the day, and lives her dream life while being muffled by the running tap in the middle of the night. Additionally, Buaji fails to alter our perspective about older women in the background reader of the story Rosy from the erotic pulp fiction novel titled Lipstick Dreams.

The views expressed are the author's own.