Sukhee: 8 films that explore female friendship

Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty has returned to the silver screen with the female buddy comedy film Sukhee. The veteran star slips into the role of the 38-year-old titular character as she travels to Delhi for her high school reunion. She uses the trip as a cathartic experience to break free from her mundane life as a housewife. The film explores the theme of female friendship as we see Sukhee and her childhood friends reminisce about the good old days of high school.

Veere di Wedding - ZEE5

The 2018 comedy Veere di Wedding may not be the most acclaimed Bollywood film in recent years, but it certainly broke several box office records in India. The film stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam K Ahuja, Swara Bhaskar, and Shikha Talsania in lead roles, and the plot revolves around the adventures and misadventures of four women who decide to holiday in Thailand before one of them gets married. The narrative chronicles their journey of self-discovery as they explore a foreign destination while navigating situations that test their bond. The film is helmed by Shashanka Ghosh and it is the perfect pick if you are in the mood for a slapstick comedy.

 The First Wives Club - Amazon Prime rental

Starring veteran Hollywood stars Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton in lead roles, the 1996 comedy-drama The First Wives Club is a cult classic. The film tells the story of three divorced women who plot revenge against their respective husbands who left them for younger women. Dan Hedaya, Victor Garber, Sarah Jessica Parker, Elizabeth Berkley, Maggie Smith, and Timothy Olyphant among others essay other prominent characters in this Hugh Wilson directorial.

Dor - Sony LIV, MX Player

The 2006 drama film Dor revolves around how two women bond under the most strenuous circumstances. When Zeenat learns that her husband is arrested in Saudi Arabia for allegedly murdering his roommate in a freak accident, she embarks on the arduous ordeal that she must navigate in order to exonerate him. She eventually learns that an official pardon from the deceased’s wife will save her husband from execution as per Saudi law. Zeenat thus befriends the wife Meena, hoping to convince her to sign the pardon, but their friendship becomes real despite Zeenat’s initial deception. The film stars Ayesha Takia, Gul Panag, and Shreyas Talpade in lead roles and is directed by Nagesh Kukunoor.

Clueless - Netflix

One of the most iconic films of the ‘90s is the teen comedy Clueless – the film that shot lead star Alicia Silverstone to superstardom. The film is a modern-day retelling of Jane Austen’s iconic coming-of-age novel Emma. Directed by Amy Heckerling, the film follows Silverstone’s character Cher, a self-absorbed affluent high-school student from an elite neighborhood in Beverly Hills in California, who decides to play matchmaker whilst disregarding any consequences. Stacey Dash and Brittany Murphy play other prominent roles in this classic comedy-drama film, along with Paul Rudd in his feature film debut.

Hustlers - Lionsgate Play

The crime-comedy film Hustlers is based on an article in New York magazine by Jessica Pressler titled The Hustlers at Scores. The film features an ensemble cast of Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez, Julia Stiles, Lili Reinhart, Keke Palmer, Lizzo, and Cardi B. It tells the story of how a few strippers from New York hatch a plan to steal from their wealthy Wall Street clients during the Recession period in 2008. The 2019 film is helmed by Lorene Scafaria and the film won several accolades for its strong performances and captivating screenplay.

Bridesmaids - Jio Cinema

The most popular film on this list is the 2011 comedy Bridesmaids. The film stars Kristen Wiig as Annie Walker, an underachieving pastry chef, who is the maid of honour for her best friend Lillian’s wedding. Her dreams of pulling off the perfect wedding for Lillian are under threat when Annie develops a rivalry and animosity between one of the bridesmaids Helen, a snobbish and wealthy friend of Lillian. The film follows their hilarious rivalry that almost threatens to ruin the wedding itself. Maya Rudolph plays the role of Lillian while Rose Byrne stars as Helen, with Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, and Chris O'Dowd essaying other prominent roles in this Paul Feig directorial.

Book Club - Prime Video

The 2018 comedy-drama Book Club stars veteran Hollywood actresses Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen in lead roles. They slip into the roles of four elderly women who are lifelong friends and part of a book club. Their lives gain a new perception after they read the erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey. They decide to embrace and explore their sexuality – a notion that they once considered taboo. Bill Holderman serves as the film’s director and the story is based on a script by himself and Erin Simms.

Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare - Netflix

Helmed by Alankrita Shrivastava, the 2019 Hindi comedy-drama stars Konkona Sen Sharma and Bhumi Pedneka in lead roles as Dolly and Kitty. The film is a satirical take on the struggles of women in contemporary Indian society. The narrative follows the lives of Dolly, a disenchanted middle-class housewife, as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery along with her cousin Kajal aka Kitty as they navigate through various issues such as femininity and sexuality.

Well that's all we got for today's episode, until the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.

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Written by Ryan Gomez

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