From Shabana Azmi in Makdee to Kareena Kapoor in Omkara to Anushka Sharma in Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola- women in Vishal Bhardwaj's films have always played strong characters. Each very defined and earthy. Each playing an important part in the film’s story line.
In his latest, Rangoon, Kangana Ranaut plays Miss Julia, an actress who worked in films in the 1940s. A rather bold, fearless woman who is sent to Rangoon to entertain Indian soldiers fighting the war, Kangana’s character is reportedly based on Fearless Nadia.
As we gear up to watch Rangoon in theatres, here is a look back at the strong women characters from Vishal Bhardwaj’s various films.
Makdee: Vishal Bhardwaj's chose a children's film to make his debut as a director and completely transformed Shabana Azmi to an extent that she was unrecognizable. Azmi played a witch who lives in a mansion alone and hunts for kids. A dark, lonely character, almost like Cruella DeVil- she epitomizes all things bad. Contrasting to her nature were Chunni/Munni- twins who unfortunately get trapped in Makdee, the witch’s web. All positive, innocent – they were the good to Makdee’s evil.
Maqbool: Tabu played Nimmi, a mistress to an underworld don, who is secretly in love with don's right hand man, played by Irrfan Khan. With her beauty and charm, she lured the men she loved, to listen to her instructions- ultimately making Maqbool defy and kill his own master.
Omkara: Kareena Kapoor had never looked so divine before. As the love interest of the main protagonist in Omkara, Kareena donned the simple small town girl's look. Kareena played an upper-cast woman, who defies her family and sets off to marry a goon. While she is loyal in love, Omkara with his insecurities, starts doubting her loyalty. Omkara also had Konkona Sen Sharma playing a village woman. As the dutiful wife of Chota Lallan, Konkona delivered a restraint performance. She was loyal, mother-like and yearning to be loved by her husband.
Chatri Chor: A little girl called Shreya Sharma played Biniya in Chhatri Chor and held her fort against a veteran like Pankaj Kapur. Set in Himachal Pradesh, the story was of Biniya and her blue umbrella.
Kaminey: Priyanka Chopra played the adventurous marathi mulgi Sweety in Kaminey who was ready to fight her family for her love. More than her man, she had spunk and the courage to defend her unborn child and fight back her brother.
Saath Khoon Maaf: Priyanka pulled an ace with her amazing performance in 7 Khoon Maaf. The film was dark and Priyanka's character had varied shades and narrated the story of Susanna and her seven husbands. Priyanka played a girl who meets 7 different men in her life and how she falls in love and marries them and eventually murders them as each of the marriages turn sour.
Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola: Anushka Sharma played Bijlee, a city bred girl of a landlord in Haryana. The one who hid her insecurities and fears through tattoos. A rebel without a cause, she fought her father and aided the oppressed villagers to bring revolution in the village.
Haider: While the film was about Haider, a troubled young man in Kashmir in search of his father who has gone missing, one character who formed the fulcrum of the plot was Ghazala, Haider’s mother. Played brilliantly by Tabu, Ghazala had her way in everything. She had the ability to convince men with her child-like stubbornness, lure and entrap them with her beauty.
Rangoon: Kangana plays Miss Julia, a bold, fashionable film star of the 1940s, who is sent to Burma to entertain Indian soldiers with her talent. She is engaged to a big producer but finds herself falling for a soldier, who has been entrusted to protect her. Knowing Kangana and her immense talent, Rangoon is bound to be high on performance and drama.
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