1. Thappad
We often hear this from our mothers, ‘ek do thappad is normal in a marriage, if you make a mistake, then your husband will hit you naa’. But the truth is it is not okay. No kind of mistake can justify violence. Thappad is a movie wherein a man slaps his wife over a heated argument with someone else.
The wife played by Taapsee Pannu, then realises all the selfless things she has been devoting towards a man who is so unthankful to her. She realises that even though it’s just a slap, he cannot hit her like that. Domestic violence is a crime, and it has to be reported, not endured.

2. Shubh Mangal Jyada Saavdhan

The movie Shubh Mangal Jyada Saavdhan is about two men who love each other and struggle to get acceptance in society and their families. The LGBTQ+ community is often said to be unnatural by homophobic people in society. But in reality, many things around us are unnatural too.
The movie brings about an understanding that ‘love is love’ and encourages society to be more accepting.

3. Panga

Panga is a movie that revolves around the life of a working mother who wants to pursue her passion in Kabaddi. A mother is often expected to leave her own passions and desires and be selfless for her husband and child.
In the movie, it is depicted how the support and acceptance of the children and spouse is essential in a woman’s career and eventually maintaining equality in society.

4. Gunjan Saxena : The Kargil Girl

‘Women can’t handle jobs in the defence service’, ‘women are born to get married’, and more such prejudices surround women from a very early age. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl is a biographical film based on the IAF pilot Gunjan Saxena.
Saxena has a feminist dad but a patriarchally dominated brother. Her father encourages her constantly to pursue her dream of becoming a pilot, while other members of the family continue to dismay her. The social issue of controlling a woman’s life has been there for a long time and still is.

5. Shikara

Shikara depicts the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Kashmir Valley. The events of 19 January 1990 were particularly vicious. On that day, mosques issued declarations that Kashmiri Pandits were Kafirs and that males had to leave Kashmir, convert to Islam, or be killed.
The movie shows the pain faced by a Kashmiri Pandit couple forced to leave their home and the struggles they face through their journey.

6. Pagglait

Widows are often portrayed as women at the mercy of others and expected to remain sad. In contrast, widowers are seen as men who still have life ahead and are often shown remarrying.
In Pagglait, Sanya Malhotra plays the role of a newly widowed woman who isn’t in the mood to cry. Her family believes she has gone crazy because she does not behave the way society expects at her husband’s funeral.

7. Badhaai Ho

Badhaai Ho talks openly about the fact that parents have sex, a topic considered taboo in society today.
The story follows a young man dealing with the fact that his parents are expecting a child. Even though society shames the family, their son eventually takes a stand for them.

8. Bulbul

Bulbul addresses crimes against women such as rape, child marriage, and domestic violence. It tells the story of an enigmatic woman who hides her painful past.
She eventually becomes the reason behind the mysterious supernatural murders of men that plague her village.

9. Toilet – Ek Prem Katha

Toilet – Ek Prem Katha is a love story with a satirical undertone. It revolves around a newly married couple living in a village.
The story highlights the issue of open defecation when the wife leaves her husband’s home because she is expected to defecate in the open. She refuses to return until a toilet is built.

10. Lipstick Under My Burkha

Lipstick Under My Burkha talks about women’s freedom and independence.
It raises questions about restrictions placed on women regarding dress codes, working outside the home, and personal choices. The film shows that women should at least have the freedom to live their lives with independence.