Jaya Bachchan, Suchitra Sen, Nandita Das, Konkona Sen Sharma who redefined women roles in Bangla cinema

Five memorable characters when Bangla cinema rediscovered women in trailblazing performances

5 Memorable women characters of Bengali cinema

We are going through a time when the world is consuming more visual medium or video than ever before. And the impact of visual arts on our society is undeniable and often a topic of mainstream discourse. On the occasion of International Women’s Day, here’s a list of five female characters of Bengali cinema whose portrayals somehow broke the stereotyped pattern and changed the basic model of representation of Indian women in films. These characters identify women beyond their conventional roles and present an image of self-identity.

Here are some of the pivotal, pathbreaking characters from Bangla cinema:

Suchitra Sen as Rina Brown (Saptapadi)

Set in the backdrop of World War 2, a drunken Anglo-Indian woman, Rina Brown (Suchitra Sen) is brought to a military hospital for treatment and Dr. Krishnendu (Uttam Kumar) immediately identifies her as his former lover. The narrative brings back the flashbacks from happier days in medical college where we witness the rebellious Rina Brown challenging Krishnendu in every aspect. These images and the very portrayal connected with the evolution of a changing society and changed the representation of women in Indian cinema. The so-called social construct of a female protagonist was shattered forever and Rina Brown managed to win hearts and respect.

Jaya Bachchan, Dhanyee Meye

The story revolves around the crazy madness of football lovers and an orphan girl, Monosha, played by Jaya Bachchan.
The president of a local football club forcefully marries off Monosha with Bogola (Partha Mukherjee) in order to keep the ancestral shield in his village. The narratives of Bengali films during these times portrayed middle-class women, revolving around marriage, family, and their lovers. But Monosha depicted a path-breaking rebel who voiced against the patriarchal norms. In the sphere of Bengali cinema, Monosha will always be remembered as the affectionate trouble maker who was confident enough to voice her opinions and the title of the film also suggests the importance of her existence.

Moushumi Chatterjee (Ogo Bodhu Sundori)

The movie was inspired by the hit British musical, My Fair Lady. And the character of Savitri, played by Moushumi Chatterjee, became very popular because of her antics and managed to garner enough attention despite the presence of big names among male actors like Uttam Kumar and Ranjit Mallick in the film. Savitri challenged the dichotomy that a female character has to behave in a certain manner. Savitri was accompanied by two small monkeys and Moushumi Chatterjee convincingly delivered a memorable performance that stayed with the audience at large. In a society where women had to earn success or attention, working twice or thrice as hard as men, Moushumi Chatterjee managed to create an identity on her own terms.

Rakhee Gulzar, Nandita Das (Subho Muharat)

Director Rituparno Ghosh pays tribute to Miss Marple of our families in the opening credit. It gradually unfolds a tale of revenge, unreciprocated love, and dark intentions. Despite her intelligence and capabilities, an intuitive Ranga Pishi (Rakhee Gulzar) who even solves a complex murder mystery case, restrains herself within the four walls of the house and prefers to refrain from the limelight. Her niece, Mallika Sen (Nandita Das), on the other hand is completely different. The generation gap and definition of independence for the two are evident. Sen is a journalist who delves deep into the narrative and represents women in modern society.

Ghosh brilliantly brings forth a perplexing world of relationships and manages to deliver a crime mystery drama that often indulges its audience with glimpses of post-modern feminism. Ranga Pishi stays with the audience with her calm approach and investigative sharpness.

Konkona Sen Sharma, Dosar

Konkona Sen Sharma portrays an enraged individual who calls for a lawyer to file her divorce while her husband is critically injured. The infidelity-based scenario sounds cliché, yet the power of storytelling and a powerhouse performance by Konkona create all the difference. The director has shown incredible restraint and never tried to express his opinion on the subject of infidelity. And Konkona’s character (Kaberi) brought the confusion out in open and portrays the dilemma within brilliantly.

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