5 Feminist Films We Loved Watching In 2022

Every year, a large number of films created by and starring women are released worldwide. 2022 was the same. This year has seen everything, from dramas that highlight the emotional journey every woman, regardless of background, goes through to blockbusters with strong female leads.

As we enter the tenth month of this year, we have seen some of the best films to date, like Darlings, which just came out, and A Thursday, which came out at the beginning of the year. Here we have compiled a list of feminist films that we loved watching in 2022.

Feminist Films In 2022:

A Thursday

In the film, A Thursday, preschool teacher Naina Jaiswal kidnaps 16 kids in order to fulfil an odd request to speak with the Indian Prime Minister. Naina played by Yami Gautam is a skilled shooter in addition to owning a gun. The Mumbai police are in a state of turmoil, being led by the hugely pregnant Catherine played by Neha Dhupia and her deputy, Javed. Major roles in the movie are played by actors like Atul Kulkarni as Javed, Dimple Kapadia, and Karanvir Sharma.

Picture Credit: Instagram

Gangubai Kathiawadi

The movie centres on Gangubai Kathiawadi, the titular character, and how the lawyer's daughter, who aspired to be an actor, was sold to a brothel in Kamathipura, Mumbai, and forced into working as a sex worker. Later, she rose to the position of the madam of the brothel and was referred to as the Madam of Kamathipura. In order to debate the rights of sex workers, Gangubai met with Jawaharlal Nehru, the country's then-prime minister. She rose to prominence as a spokesperson for the rights of sex workers and their children. Gangubai Kathiawadi stars Alia Bhatt as the titular character alongside Shantanu Maheshwari, Vijay Raaz, Seema Pahwa, Indira Tiwari, Jim Sarbh, and Varun Kapoor.

Picture Credit: YouTube screenshot

Janhit Mein Jaari

The movie is set in Madhya Pradesh, where Manokamna Tripathi, a condom saleswoman, decides to start a dialogue about safe sex, a subject that is typically shunned and disregarded. The movie focuses on her hardships as she embarks on this quest to fulfil her desire to teach people about the subject and importance of safe sex, despite coming from a strict familial background and living in an orthodox society. Along with Nushrratt Bharuccha in the role of Tripathi, Janhit Mein Jaari also starred performers like Vijay Raaz, Anud Singh Dhaka, Tinu Anand, and Paritosh Tripathi.

Nushrratt Bharuccha in Janhit Mein Jaari

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Jalsa

The story of Jalsa centres on the lives of two women; one of them, Maya a journalist who is known for speaking frankly and bravely and Rukhsana who was her housekeeper. A series of occasions involving politics, power, and money occurs as Rukhsana seeks justice after her daughter is murdered in a vehicle accident one evening. The key actors in the movie are Shefali Shah as Rukhsana and Vidya Balan as Maya.

A still from Jalsa

Darlings

In the dark comedy Darlings, the main character the story is a wife who kidnaps her own husband in order to get revenge on her spouse for the years of cruelty she suffered. The young woman is helped in this task by her mother. The two were in charge of organising Hamza's abduction and even getting Zulfi involved. In the movie, Bhatt portrays the wife, Badrunissa, and Vijay Varma, the husband, Hamza.

Credit: YouTube still

Bollywood gave some great movies representing women as they are and in leading roles. The audience looks forward to more such films with varied representation and with the right sensibility.

Suggested Reading: ‘Sharapanjara’ to ‘Act 1978’: Five Kannada Feminist Films To Watch Online