Even though Hindi movies are mostly about romantic angles, comedy, and grand dance sequences, a certain section of Bollywood churns out some truly compelling Hindi thriller movies as well. Complete with intriguing storylines and, at times, ultra-high stakes, these kinds of feature presentations are ideal for those Hindi movie lovers who want to take a break from the type of cinema that has become the norm for Bollywood and jump into something more exciting and adrenaline-pumping. What’s more, many of these films also celebrate the true strength of Indian women by making them the central characters of the story. This article is about exactly 5 films that exemplify the grit, wit, power, and overall resilience of the women of India. Read on to know more.
Naam Shabana (2017)
In the prequel to the Akshay Kumar-starrer Baby (2015), Naam Shabana makes Taapsee Pannu’s Shabana Khan the titular character from the previous film. In the movie, Shabana goes from a college girl proficient in martial arts to a revered agent of an Indian intelligence agency. In the process, the film touches upon themes such as domestic abuse, eve teasing, grief, and power, all of which Shabana fights against quite valiantly. This movie can be streamed on ZEE5 Global.
Mardaani (2014)
One can say that through this 2014 Yash Raj Films production, Rani Mukerji truly invented herself as a character actor. In this film, she can be effortlessly seen getting into the skin of Shivani Shivaji Roy, a dedicated officer of the Mumbai police force determined to take down a complex child trafficking cartel. This movie not only talks about the prevalent social evil of human trafficking but also explores the degree of determination and analytical ability a member of the fairer gender can display. This film can be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.
Mom (2017)
This spine-chilling and jaw-dropping thriller centers around a biology teacher named Devki, played by the late and great Sridevi. The movie touches upon topics such as the culture of sexual assault that is present in India and even explores the strength of the resolve of a vengeful woman. This film was a surprise hit and stars the likes of Sajal Ali, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and Akshaye Khanna, amongst others. Mom can be streamed on ZEE5 Global as well as Netflix.
NH10 (2015)
This Anushka Sharma-starrer is a story based on the tradition of honor killings. The movie, one of Anushka Sharma’s first-ever productions, sees her go from being a happily married wife to a fearsome and grieving widow unafraid of pulling back her punches. This movie has been compared to the films that are a part of Hollywood’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, which should give you an idea of the kind of gore to expect from the film’s leading lady. This movie can also be streamed on JioCinema.
Mulk (2018)
The final entry in the list of Hindi thriller movies with strong female leads is, unsurprisingly, yet another Taapsee Pannu starrer. This film talks about the Hindu-Muslim divide, the plight of the wrongfully accused, and the reasons behind certain people gravitating towards extremism. While doing so, the film also introduces its viewers to Aarti, a daughter who is fighting for the honor of her family in court as a lawyer after being wrongfully accused of having terrorist connections. This movie can be watched on ZEE5 Global as well.