On
casually
browsing
through
the
release
calendar
of
2011,
I
realised
that
there
is
a
plethora
of
films
all
set
to
arrive
which
boast
of
some
of
the
top
female
names
that
Bollywood
(sorry
Salman!)
boasts
of
today.
Priyanka
Chopra,
Kareena
Kapoor,
Vidya
Balan
-
every
woman
who
has
been
around
for
long
has
something
big
on
her
plate
this
year.
'What's
new?'
-
one
may
ask.
After
all,
every
Bollywood
film
does
have
a
place
for
a
leading
lady
and
today,
leaving
aside
a
stray
instance
or
two,
none
of
the
top
females
worth
their
salt
would
agree
to
do
a
film
and
allow
herself
to
be
presented
as
a
mere
showpiece.
'Matter'
is
of
as
much
significance
as
'moolah'
and
the
ladies
have
been
demanding
both
more
than
ever
before.
But
yes,
there
is
'something
new'
indeed.
And
that
is
the
entire
focus
that
has
shifted
towards
telling
many
a
film
which
have
a
woman
protagonist
playing
the
central
role
rather
than
being
just
an
accompanying
partner.
In
this
week's
'Reflections',
let's
go
through
the
change
that
is
taking
place,
albeit
a
little
slowly,
but
definitely
in
a
positive
direction.
The
hero
There
is
a
hero.
And
then
there
is
a
heroine.
But
then
if
No
One
Killed
Jessica,
the
first
success
of
2011
has
to
be
studied,
who
is
the
hero
here?
No
wonder,
the
line
has
started
diminishing
between
the
sexes.
Rani
Mukherjee
and
Vidya
Balan
could
have
taken
different
approach
when
fighting
their
battle
but
they
were
indeed
the
heroes
of
the
film.
The
change
had
begun
and
it
was
high
time
that
it
was
milked
to
the
fullest.
This
was
evidenced
in
Dhobi
Ghat
where
one
character
who
was
definitely
sure
about
herself
and
could
take
the
honour
of
being
central
to
the
plot,
was
the
one
played
by
Monica
Dogra.
Aamir
could
be
a
recluse,
Prateik
could
be
a
romantic
and
Kriti
could
be
someone
mysterious
but
Monica
was
someone
who
was
as
simple
and
uncomplicated
as
one
would
have
wanted.
The
biggest
of
them
all
However,
if
at
all
there
is
a
big
promise
being
made,
it
is
in
7
Khoon
Maaf.
'Getting
away
with
murder'
may
well
have
been
an
adage
but
it's
true
meaning
is
all
set
to
be
explored
with
7
Khoon
Maaf.
Priyanka
may
have
agreed
to
be
seen
in
a
mere
half
a
dozen
odd
scenes
in
Kaminey
but
then
she
knew
that
for
his
next,
Vishal
Bhardwaj
wouldn't
have
to
look
elsewhere.
Result?
Priyanka
is
now
towering
over
each
of
her
seven
men,
whether
in
the
promos,
campaign
and
of
course
the
film
by
itself.
Not
a
mean
achievement
when
it
boasts
of
a
couple
of
internationally
acclaimed
actors
and
two
hunks
who
could
have
well
opted
to
run
a
solo
hero
film
on
their
own
name.
Still,
they
seem
fine
playing
one
of
the
many
men
that
Priyanka
romances.
And
then
kills!
Still,
there
is
no
sign
of
pain.
The
usual
suspect
Another
girl
who
continues
to
find
author
backed
roles
for
herself
is
Kangna
Ranaut.
Woh
Lamhe
was
her
film.
Gangster
too
was
more
hers
than
Shiney's
or
Emraan's.
And
in
Fashion,
she
again
made
a
place
for
herself.
Leaving
aside
faux
pas
like
Knock
Out
and
No
Problem,
Kangna
has
stood
her
stand
and
now
even
has
a
film,
the
title
of
which
has
her
name
coming
before
that
of
the
hero.
Tanu
Weds
Manu
may
have
two
characters
in
it
but
by
the
look
of
the
things,
Madhavan
seems
pretty
happy
telling
the
story
'about
a
girl'
through
his
eyes.
Now
with
the
central
protagonist
turning
out
to
be
a
female
all
over
again,
it
is
clear
that
filmmakers
are
thinking
of
making
a
change.
And
thankfully
for
all
concerned,
they
are
doing
their
job
quite
well!
Someone
else
who
seems
to
have
done
his
job
well
is
Rohan
Sippy
who
has
gone
ahead
and
done
the
unthinkable.
For
the
publicity
design
of
his
Dum
Maro
Dum,
he
hasn't
bothered
to
feature
anyone
from
his
strong
cast
comprising
of
Abhishek
Bachchan
or
Bipasha
Basu.
He
has
just
gone
ahead
and
presented
the
flat
tummy
of
a
girl
(is
she
really
Deepika?)
with
Dum
Maro
Dum
written
over
it.
Yeah
girls,
now
that's
awesome!
The
new
entrants
One
hopes
though
that
the
awesomeness
continues
with
the
new
brigade
of
filmmakers
joining
the
show
as
well.
For
her
first
production
Chalo
Dilli,
one
can
well
expect
Lara
Dutta
to
play
her
cards
well.
With
Vinay
Pathak
being
the
only
other
recognised
'star'
in
the
film,
one
can
well
expect
whose
story
would
it
eventually
turn
out
to
be.
Lara
Dutta
may
have
not
told
the
world
about
the
surprise
that
she
has
up
her
sleeves
but
the
least
that
one
expects
from
her
is
a
story
that
would
be
captivating
and
bring
to
fore
a
modern
outlook,
something
which
is
expected
from
an
ex-Miss
Universe.
As
for
the
other
new
entrants
who
are
getting
together
for
yet
another
voyeuristic
saga
(after
Love
Sex
Aur
Dhokha)
by
Ekta
Kapoor,
Raginni
MMS,
the
cards
have
already
been
laid
down
on
the
table.
An
MMS,
a
woman
and
a
sex
scandal
-
one
can
well
expect
women
power
to
be
hitting
hard
in
a
big
way
here.
Add
to
this
the
fact
there
is
a
supernatural
angle
thrown
in
as
well
and
one
can
be
rest
assured
that
women
are
going
to
haunt
and
kill
in
a
big
way
here!
The
killers
If
looks
could
kill
then
well,
there
is
a
lot
in
the
offing
before
the
end
of
the
year.
Murder
was
pretty
much
a
Mallika
Sherawat
film.
We
all
know
that.
Now
will
Murder
2
do
the
same
for
Jacqueline
Fernandez?
I
hope
so.
No
really,
I
indeed
hope
so.
After
all
to
see
a
demure
and
charming
Jackie
(as
the
girl
is
fondly
called)
was
a
little
too
sweet
and
saccharine
in
her
earlier
outings.
Now
let's
have
some
'tadka',
something
that
Bhatts
are
pretty
much
promising
with
their
franchise
outing.
Of
course
Emraan
Hahsmi
is
expected
to
deliver;
after
all
it
is
his
home
territory.
But
really,
it
would
be
surprising
if
Jackie
doesn't
go
the
whole
way
and
make
the
best
use
of
the
platform.
Come
on
girl,
make
it
happen.
This
is
the
time
for
women
to
take
centre
stage
so
don't
hold
back.
Now
that's
a
sense
which
Vidya
Balan
has
pretty
much
imbibed
in
her
over
the
years.
Parineeta,
Bhool
Bhulaiyaa,
Ishqiya
and
of
course
No
One
Killed
Jessica
-
you
name
it.
She
is
the
one
who
is
remembered
most
when
talks
veer
towards
these
films
and
her
upcoming
Kahaani
by
Sujoy
Ghosh
should
be
no
different.
Playing
a
woman
who
fights
for
herself,
she
is
not
one
of
the
protagonists
in
the
film;
she
is
THE
protagonist
here.
No
wonder,
scripts
are
being
adjusted
for
her
so
that
she
gives
her
best
for
other
female
centric
films.
Case
in
point
being
The
Dirty
Picture.
The
future
Ladies
V/S
Ricky
Bahl
-
Now
this
could
well
be
the
killer
of
all
names.
Leave
aside
the
fact
that
it
is
the
hero's
name
-
Ricky
Behl
-
which
features
in
the
title,
the
very
fact
that
'Ladies'
begins
it
all
pretty
much
ensures
that
women
power
will
leave
pretty
much
from
the
front.
Yes
the
film
would
showcase
what
Ranveer
Singh
is
capable
of
(all
over
again
after
Band
Baaja
Baaraat)
but
Anushka
Sharma,
one
of
the
rare
newcomers
to
have
enjoyed
at
least
two
films
so
far
that
have
centred
around
her,
is
pretty
much
expected
to
shine.
No
wonder,
with
all
women
out
there
enjoying
their
best
time
under
the
sun
and
picking
and
choosing
the
most
terrific
scripts
that
are
coming
their
way,
the
filmmaker
who
could
well
be
smiling
most
is
Madhur
Bhandarkar.
Forever
known
for
making
female
centric
films,
his
Heroine
may
not
have
kick
started
last
year
but
with
such
women
power
all
around
him,
a
nod
of
approval
from
someone
who
deserved
the
script
(rather
than
the
other
way
round)
could
just
be
round
the
corner!