Hansa To Chandramukhi Chautala: 5 Iconic Comic Roles Played By Women

We can't divorce comedy and films, books, series and everything pop culture for it would be a dull world without a dash of humour in it. In comic Maeve Higgins’ words, “Laughter is a lubricant and is expected and it’s really hard not to do it.” Comedy sitcoms like Office Office have given immemorable comic characters that make people laugh over and over again.

However, the comic relief is often based on the characters’ stupidity. It is rare that a comic character does not only makes one laugh and also compels one to introspect. When a character can pull off both, it is like a cherry on the cake.

Women In Comic roles: The following Hindi television series have not only tickled the viewers’ funny bones but also leave an impactful lesson on feminism.

Devki and Radha Verma (Tu Tu Main Main)

The two women Devki (Reema Lagoo) and Radha (Supriya Pilgaonkar) from the sitcom Tu Tu Main Main that aired in the 90s were a breath of fresh air. Unlike the daily soap’s usual toxic saas-bahu relationship, these two women became cheerleaders for each other. Like any other individuals, they did have their moments of bickering but their camaraderie reminds everyone to unlearn the age-old phrase “women are women’s archnemesis”.

Supriya Pilgaonkar and Reema Lagoo in Tu Tu Main Main

Monisha Sarabhai (Sarabhai vs Sarabhai)

Played by Rupali Ganguly, Monisha Sarabhai is a woman who is quirky and a typical middle-class woman. Her antics undoubtedly made people laugh but her endearing quality is that she never lets Maya Sarabhai’s sarcastic comments dim her shine. She is unapologetically herself. The money-saving genius never succumbed to the pressure of changing her values because her mother-in-law thought it was “low-standard”. It just makes us realise how important it is to stand up for what we believe in.

Still from Sarabhai vs Sarabhai (IMDb)

Suggested Reading: Know How These Inspiring Women Shaped Feminism As We Know It

Hansa (Khichadi)

Thanks to Supriya Pathak, all of us have a beautiful character to cherish. It was because of her that Hansa became the most popular character from Khichdi. Based on stereotypes of Gujarati women, her character does not fail to put a smile on your face. The most beautiful aspect of her is that she is not afraid to ask questions or be ridiculed. Come what may, she does not lose her individuality which definitely makes her a feminist icon.

Chandramukhi Chautala (FIR)

Chandramukhi Chautala (Kavita Kaushik) is an inspector from Haryana who is outspoken, intelligent and humorous. She is assertive and commands any room she is present in. Chautala is a woman who speaks her mind. To be heard in the real world requires one to be assertive and who better than her to learn that from.

Sushma Mehra (Shararat)

The doting matriarch who is not afraid to take on the world to protect her loved ones is how one would describe Sushma (Farida Jalal) from the sitcom Shararat. The matriarch is an independent woman and tries to make her granddaughter Jiya (Shruthi Sheth) independent as well. She is a feminist icon who upholds a woman’s individuality and strives to teach women around her to be independent. And we love this!