The past few years have seen a proliferation of TV shows and movies that have one or several strong women at the heart of their stories. These shows explore what the true strength of a woman is, the extent to which a woman is willing to go to achieve her goals, and what it means to be a woman in a patriarchal setting. If you are someone who is willing to explore 5 such engaging stories that celebrate the women of India and that will make you cheer and whistle while you are on the ride, this article is for you. Read on to know more about such shows, which you can find on ZEE5.
- Parushapur
Arguably one of the biggest TV shows that can be found on Zee5 in terms of scale and grandeur, Parushapur is the age old story of the battle of the sexes set in a fantastical setting. Its lead female cast members, such as Shilpa Shinde, Flora Saini, Poulomi Das, Kashish Rai, and Ashmita Bakshi, can be seen playing incredibly nuanced gray characters who would go to any lengths to win over their male counterparts, their demon, and the right to be treated equally.
- Churails
This Pakistan-based show, whose title translates to Witches’ is one of the most critically acclaimed South Asian shows there is. This 10-episode-long TV show focuses on the lives of four women. Some of them gave up their careers to be the perfect wives; some are highly successful in their line of work; and one woman is an ex-convict who was sentenced to 20 years in prison. One fine day, their lives get intertwined when the lawyer-turned-homemaker’s husband ends up cheating on her. The end result? A secret society that gets formed by these women with the intention of catching all of the cheating husbands.
- The Married Woman
Set against the political unrest of the 1990s, this show focuses on two women and their journey of self discovery, which has obstacles such as pre-set gender norms, societal expectations, and religious rules. The show is fronted by Riddhi Dogra and Monica Dogra. Interestingly, the title of the show gives the impression that marriage is in itself an obstacle.
- Kaali
One of the most thrilling, suspenseful, and engaging shows on the platform, Kaali sees its ritual character, who is a mother, being left with nothing but one day to save her son’s life. In order to be able to do so, Kaali has to navigate through the underbelly of Kolkata, which is only spoken about in hushed tones. It is a typical David vs. Goliath story set in the underbelly of West Bengal’s capital.
- The Sholay Girl
This particular show perhaps exemplifies the true physical strength of a woman. The show is a biographical presentation based on the life of India’s first ever stunt woman, Reshma Pathan. Reshma is an individual who has made quite a career for herself playing stunt doubles for various iconic actresses over the decades. This show traces her rise in film as well as the stunt people industry.
