Women-led regional films everyone must watch

For the longest time, Indian movies peddled the 'damsel in distress' trope. There was also a time when audiences preferred stars over actors and shunned women-led films. But today's audiences have shown more affinity to well-written scripts. The Dirty Picture, English Vinglish, and Queen are great examples of such movies. If you like women-oriented stories, you should check out these women-led regional films.

Parama (Mubi)

Directed by Padma Shri award-winning director and filmmaker Aparna Sen, Parama is a Bengali film about a married woman facing rejection from her in-laws due to a certain event beyond her control. Starring Rakhi, this bold 1985 film was way ahead of its time as it featured a strong, sexually liberated woman, and the choices she makes when her husband's family disowns her.

Uyare (Netflix and Manorama Max)

Uyare took the nation by storm with its touching storyline of an acid attack female victim. While the movie deals with issues faced by the victim, it also highlights the hypocrisy of patriarchy in general. Watch Parvathy Thiruvothu play the lead role in this 2019 Malayalam-language drama directed by Manu Ashokan, also featuring Minnal Murali star Tovino Thomas and Asif Ali. Fun fact - the film is produced by a trio of females!

Nude (Zee5, Vi movies and TV)

Fed-up of her husband's illicit relations, Yamuna decides to leave the village with her son and arrives in Mumbai to live with her poor aunt and husband in a single room. Upon realising a janitor's salary will not pay for her son's education, she starts posing as a nude artist, allowing her to make decent money. This Marathi-language film is the story of Yamuna, who will go to any lengths to fund her ungrateful son's education.

Mahanati (Amazon Prime Video)

This critically acclaimed Telugu film is a biopic based on the life of South Indian actress Savitri. While Savatri's body of work earned the title of Mahanati, meaning 'great actress', her real-life was more complicated than she led on. As viewers, you get to step into the dark underbelly of the glamourous film world with Savatri as our tour guide. The narrative takes the audience through her life's journey as she faces infidelity, alcoholism, jealousy, and betrayal. Keerthy Suresh's role as Savithri won her the Best Actress award at the 66th National Film Awards.

Anandi Gopal (Zee5 and Vi movies and TV)

This Marathi-language eponymous film is based on Anandi Gopal, the first woman to graduate in western medicine in the USA and one of the first Indian female doctors. The film shows Anandi's journey as she aspires to be a physician after losing her 10-day old baby boy due to lack of medical care. It also showcases her beautiful relationship with her husband, Gopalrao Joshi, a progressive, forward-thinking man who encourages Anandi and becomes her greatest cheerleader.

What to watch? Too many choices, too much confusion!