Updated on: 14 August, 2024 05:22 PM IST |Shweta Shah
As India celebrates its 78th year of independence, we realize that today, freedom is more than just its text book definition. In the 21st century, Bollywood movies are proving the same. With characters and stories that talk about freedom of being yourself, read on as we tell you how Bollywood is changing the country, one film at a time. Happy Independence Day!
Freedom to Love
It is 21st century and we're free to love whomever we are attracted to. Gone are the days when people won't speak about their sexual identity. We've seen enough and more people being vocal, coming out about their sexuality, and owning it with pride. With Bollywood carefully constructing some aww-dorable stories about the LGBTQIA community, these movies talk about normalizing gender fluidity and accepting it with open arms.1. Aligarh
Helmed by Hansal Mehta, the biographical drama is a true story of Ramcharan Siras (played by Manoj Bajpayee), a professor of Marathi and head of Classical and Modern Languages at Aligarh University. He is suspended on thr grounds of morality after a journalist forcefully invades his privacy and records him having sex with a male rickshaw-puller.Also Read: 7 Movies That Showed the Hardships of LGBTQ Relationships
An empathetic journalist (Rajkummar Rao) contacts him and his case is taken to the court. Despite the case being ruled in his favour to withdraw the suspension, Siras is found dead.
This movie gives out a message of how invading someone's personal life can have a deep imapct on them, so much so, that they can be suicidal.
2. Badhaai Do
Knowing our over-dramatic parents who are yet to match up with out generation, their "log kya kahenge" syndrome is difficult to cure. Badhaai Do is a movie that revolves around a woman (Bhumi Pednekar) who is lesbian and a man (Rajkummar Rao) who has a boyfriend. However, just to keep up with the societal expectations, they end up marrying each other. The ending of the film will move you as the two come out to their parents.There are many such movies like Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui, Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan, Kapoor and Sons, Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, and more. Thanks to these amazing stories, we're seeing a slow but sure change in the society.
Women's right to shut patriarchy
If you're thinking "not this feminism lecture again," feel free to press the back button. Bollywood movies like Queen and English Vinglish have done a phenomenal job in making a woman centric movie. While one speaks about realizing your own self-worth, the latter is a journey of a mother finding the lost woman within her.1. Queen
Kangana Ranaut, a small-town girl madly in love with his arranged-marriage prince charming (Rajkummar Rao) who turns out to be a selfish weirdo. He dumps her only to realize he's made such a big mistake. The journey of losing her to finding herself is portrayed beautifully.
2. English Vinglish
Do we need to say anything about this Bollywood masterpiece? Sridevi's last movie was an emotional roller-coaster ride which made us realize our mothers are also a woman before being our rescuer. At times, all she needs is a little bit of respect. If this doesn't leave you with a feeling of giving your mom a big hug, we don't know what will. Many other women-centric movies like Thappad, Saand Ki Aankh, Dear Zindagi and more speak about freedom for women to shut patriarchy.
3. Freedom of career choices
Circling back to what we said about our parents and "log kya kahenge," it is time we also let people make their own career choices instead of pre-deciding their fate. Bollywood movies like 3 Idiots and Udaan are perfect examples of "do what you love, you'll enjoy what you do."Be it Baba Ranchoddas or Rajat Barmecha's character in Udaan, every person who strives and thrives to follow their passion. Other such Bollywood films that fit into this category would be Taare Zameen Par, Wake Up Sid, and more.
Radio City wishes you a Happy Independence Day. Jai Hind!
