From Badhaai Ho To The Last Color, Five Hindi Films That Celebrates Older Women

Traditionally older women in Hindi films were sidelined. Though they were present in every film they were limited to supporting cast. They played the roles of the bechari mother, khadoos mother-in-law or grandmother, the elder sister or bhabhi. Bollywood for a long time put the spotlight on women characters who could be sexualised. However, things have been changing for the better and there have been films which have put women beyond a certain age to the foreground of a story.

The lazy writing of older women characters has also bettered, writers and creators are making an effort to make it diverse. An older woman character may decide to start her own business or fight her own battles, she may not be an abla (helpless) nari (woman). But having mentioned the change, we are far from a breaking point. Here we look at films that celebrated the middle-aged woman and spoke about her problems, trails and tribulations and celebrated her victories and joys.

Suggested Reading: Invisible Lives: Where Are All The Older Women In Films And TV?

Here is a list of five Hindi Films on Older Women:

Lipstick Under My Burkha

The film has both its fan and critics but none can forget Ratna Pathak Shah in the red saree with a flower in her hair. The film beautiful weaves the story of different generations of women and their life together with one topic their sexuality. Talking about sex has always been a taboo topic in our society.  The film narrated the story of women who came from all walks of life, privilege and age. In this Alankrita Shrivastava's 2016 film, the character of Shah, Usha Buaji is unforgettable. She is a widow and her identity gets limited to that and being a mother, grandmother, amongst others. An older woman like Shah's character is not expected to have sexual needs by society, but she does and the film explores that.

Ram Prasad Ki Tehravi

The film directed by actor Seema Pahwa, is a commentary on death and the rituals of it, pointing out the comical yet realistic bits of such ritual. But the focal point of the film is Supriya Pathak's character Amma, whose husband Ram Prasad played by Naseeruddin Shah has just passed away and the rites are for him. Even within a hustling bustling household with overlapping relationships, Pahwa clearly showed the remorse felt by Amma on the loss of her partner, with whom she has the fondest memory. No one was as close to him as she was. The film also shows her relationship with her daughter-in-law Seema played by Konkana Sen Sharma in the most refreshing way.

Hindi Films On Older Women

Badhaai Ho 

Sexuality for an older woman is ignored by the society, even by the young, modern, woke people. The film was a trendsetter as commercial it was one of the first of its kind which tried to break away with this notion. The film is about a young man played by Ayushmann Khurrana whose parents, played by Neena Gupta and Gajraj Rao, are expecting their third child. Khurrana's character is the older son who is of "marriageable age." They face issues from their own family and Gupta's character is taunted endlessly for conceiving a baby at such an "old" age. Also, conceiving means that she has an active sex life, which society believes older women do not have.

Neena Gupta And Ayushmann Khurrana in Badhaai Ho

The Last Color 

This 2019 film by chef-turned-filmmaker Vikas Khanna explores the bond between a widow named Noor, played by Neena Gupta and a Dalit street performer named Chhoti, played by Aqsa Siddiqui. Both are excluded by society and looked down upon. Passing each day in their troubled and monochrome world, the two find each other. Chhoti brings colour to Noor's life. The festival of Holi becomes a device to explore Noor's desire and Chhoti's rebellious nature. The two people who have been marginalised find consonance in each other. The film is inspired by real-life events.

Neena Gupta Starrer 'The Last Color' In The Race For Oscars
Credits: Last Color

Gulaab Gang 

This 2014 film starring Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla is an action drama film which is directed by Soumik Sen. This film was the first time when two female superstars from the 90s shared a screen together as the leading roles. Rajjo, played by Dixit was the fierce leader of the Gulaab Gang, whose members are activists in Bundelkhand and Madhya Pradesh. They wear pink sarees and fight against issues like dowry, domestic violence, rape, amongst others. While Chawla played the role of a shrewd politician.