Five narratives that celebrate the strength, resilience, and grace of women

These films and teleplays showcase the diverse roles women play within their families and in society

Women-led stories articulating the struggles and triumphs of female protagonists are growing increasingly popular on the big and small screen. These stories celebrate the often invisibilized contributions of women and shed light on the grace and resilience with which they play diverse roles within their families and in society.

Here is a curated list of some unforgettable stories that give women their due.

Maa Retire Hoti Hai

This Zee Theatre teleplay penned by playwright Ashok Patole stars the late Reema Lagoo in the role of a wife and loving mother who is taken for granted by her children as well as her husband. One fine day, when she has had enough, she announces her retirement from domestic duties. The teleplay raises important questions about why only women are frequently compelled to prioritise the needs of others over their own happiness. With Yatin Karyekar, Sachin Deshpande, Shweta Mehendale, Sanket Phatak, Mansi Naik, Rutuja Nagwekar and Sandesh Kulkarni featuring in other notable roles, ‘Maa Retire Hoti Hai’ is available for streaming on ZEE5. Filmed by Suman Mukhopadhyay, it is directed for the stage by Rajan Tamhane.

Piku

This slice-of-life tale follows Piku, a daughter who neglects her professional and personal life in order to play the tireless caregiver to her endlessly demanding father Bhaskor Banerjee. Their constantly bickering relationship takes an intriguing turn when they embark on a road trip from Delhi to Kolkata, where Piku finds opportunities to articulate her fears about her father’s mortality and also her own longing for love and fulfilment. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, ‘Piku’ also features the late Irrfan Khan as the charismatic Rana Chaudhary. Watch it on Sony Liv.

Kahani Mitra Ki

Authored by Padma Bhushan laureate Vijay Tendulkar, ‘Kahani Mitra Ki’ is a masterful creation set in the 1940s. The Zee Theatre teleplay narrates the story of two college friends Bapu and Mitra whose relationship takes an unexpected turn when Mitra reveals her feelings for Nama, a girl she met during a play. The play shows how challenging it has always been for women to embrace their true selves amid rigid societal structures. Directed by Akash Khurana, the teleplay also stars Sayalee Phatak, Parna Pethe, Abhay Mahajan, Om Bhutkar and Priyanshu Painyuli in lead roles. You can watch it on September 20 on Airtel Spotlight, Dish TV Rangmanch Active and D2H Rangmanch Active.

Tumhari Sulu

Vidya Balan portrays Sulochana, aka Sulu, in this heartwarming tale highlighting how domestic pressures and lack of family support can hinder women from pursuing their dreams. The story follows Sulu, an ambitious Mumbai housewife, who unexpectedly lands a job as an RJ in a leading radio station. Her late-night show, ‘Tumhari Sulu’, becomes a hit but complicates her domestic life as well as her relationship with her husband. The film features Vidya Balan, Neha Dhupia, Manav Kaul, and Abhishek Sharma. It is directed by Suresh Triveni. ‘Tumhari Sulu’ is available for streaming on Prime Video.

The Sky Is Pink

Shonali Bose’s ‘The Sky Is Pink’ is inspired by the book ‘My Little Epiphanies’ by Aisha Chaudhary. It is a moving story about grief, hope and the lengths to which a mother can go to take care of her daughter. The film narrates the struggles of the late Aisha who was born with SCID (severe combined immune deficiency) and underwent a bone-marrow transplant when she was just six months old. The film focuses on Aditi and Niren, her parents who do their best to keep Aisha safe and to make life as normal as possible for her and their son, Ishaan. Priyanka Chopra plays the devoted mother who even in her devastation finds a way to keep her daughter’s memories alive. Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim and Rohit Saraf play other pivotal roles. The film is available on Netflix.