15 Indian Films with Powerful Female Characters
by sneshu | created - 08 Jun 2016 | updated - 08 Jun 2016 | PublicIndian Cinema continues to create powerful and interesting roles for women. Which female characters inspire you on-screen?
- Instant Watch Options
- Genres
- Movies or TV
- IMDb Rating
- In Theaters
- Release Year
- Keywords
1. Mother India (1957)
Not Rated | 172 min | Action, Comedy, Drama
In this melodrama, a poverty-stricken woman raises her sons through many trials and tribulations. But no matter the struggles, she always sticks to her own moral code.
Director: Mehboob Khan | Stars: Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar Tuli, Raaj Kumar
Votes: 9,856
2. Queen (2013)
Not Rated | 146 min | Adventure, Comedy, Drama
A Delhi girl from a traditional family sets out on a solo honeymoon after her marriage gets cancelled.
Director: Vikas Bahl | Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Rajkummar Rao, Lisa Haydon, Jeffrey Ho
Votes: 68,349 | Gross: $1.43M
3. Masoom (1983)
Not Rated | 165 min | Drama, Family
A happy family goes through turbulent times because of a big mistake by one of the family members.
Director: Shekhar Kapur | Stars: Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Jugal Hansraj, Urmila Matondkar
Votes: 4,404
4. Jai Gangaajal (2016)
149 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A newly appointed Senior Inspector finds herself against very powerful goons and having people from her own department against her.
Director: Prakash Jha | Stars: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Prakash Jha, Manav Kaul, Ninad Kamat
Votes: 2,621
5. NH 10 (2015)
Not Rated | 115 min | Action, Crime, Drama
On their way to a weekend retreat, a married couple find their dream vacation turn into a nightmare when they cross paths with a dangerous gang.
Director: Navdeep Singh | Stars: Anushka Sharma, Neil Bhoopalam, Darshan Kumaar, Deepti Naval
Votes: 14,015
6. Margarita with a Straw (2014)
Not Rated | 100 min | Drama
A rebellious young woman with cerebral palsy leaves her home in India to study in New York, unexpectedly falls in love, and embarks on an exhilarating journey of self-discovery.
Directors: Shonali Bose, Nilesh Maniyar | Stars: Kalki Koechlin, Revathi, Sayani Gupta, Hussain Dalal
Votes: 4,106
7. English Vinglish (2012)
Not Rated | 134 min | Comedy, Drama, Family
A quiet, sweet tempered housewife endures small slights from her well-educated husband and daughter every day because of her inability to speak and understand English.
Director: Gauri Shinde | Stars: Sridevi, Adil Hussain, Mehdi Nebbou, Priya Anand
Votes: 39,603 | Gross: $1.67M
8. Perumazhakkalam (2004)
146 min | Drama
A man accidentally kills his friend while fighting with a man who absconded with his money and is sentenced to death. His only way out is to obtain a letter of pardon from his friend's wife.
Director: Kamal | Stars: Meera Jasmine, Kavya Madhavan, Dileep, Biju Menon
Votes: 316
9. The Dirty Picture (2011)
Not Rated | 145 min | Biography, Comedy, Drama
The love story between an actress and a director, inspired by the life of the late south Indian actress Silk Smitha.
Director: Milan Luthria | Stars: Vidya Balan, Emraan Hashmi, Tusshar Kapoor, Naseeruddin Shah
Votes: 10,411
10. Dushman (1998)
Not Rated | 145 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A woman goes on a hunt to find her twin sister's rapist and murderer.
Director: Tanuja Chandra | Stars: Kajol, Sanjay Dutt, Ashutosh Rana, Jas Arora
Votes: 2,199
11. No One Killed Jessica (2011)
136 min | Biography, Crime, Drama
A journalist, who is more of an activist teams up with the sister of a murdered model, as she gets interested in the case and wants to bring justice to her case.
Director: Raj Kumar Gupta | Stars: Rani Mukerji, Vidya Balan, Myra Karn, Neil Bhoopalam
Votes: 12,339 | Gross: $0.44M
12. Karthavyam (1990)
152 min | Action, Drama
Vyjayanthi (Vijaya Santhi) is an Assistant Superintendent of Police and a sincere cop who strives to confront a corrupt local leader Muddukrishnayya and his son's atrocities. Karthavyam is ... See full summary »
Director: Mohan Gandhi | Stars: Vijayshanti, Vinod Kumar, Atluri Pundarikakshaiah, Nirmalamma
Votes: 113
13. Angry Indian Goddesses (2015)
115 min | Comedy, Drama
A photographer invites her closest friends to vacation at her family's home in Goa in celebration of her upcoming marriage.
Director: Pan Nalin | Stars: Amy Maghera, Rajshri Deshpande, Pavleen Gujral, Anushka Manchanda
Votes: 2,964
14. Tanu Weds Manu Returns (2015)
Not Rated | 128 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
Tanu and Manu's marriage collapses. What happens when Manu meets Tanu's lookalike Kusum - and when Tanu returns?
Director: Aanand L. Rai | Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Madhavan, Jimmy Shergill, Deepak Dobriyal
Votes: 29,702
15. Lajja (2001)
Not Rated | 202 min | Action, Crime, Drama
The lives of four women from different places are the victims of male chauvinism and marital abuse. They decide to fight for their rights and dignity against the social norms and injustice.
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi | Stars: Manisha Koirala, Jackie Shroff, Madhuri Dixit, Ajay Devgn
Votes: 2,913 | Gross: $0.38M
Tell Your Friends