Women We Loved On Indian OTT This Year

"Whether I am meant to or not, I challenge assumptions about women. I do make some people uncomfortable, which I'm well aware of, but that's just part of coming to grips with what I believe is still one of the most important pieces of unfinished business in human history-empowering women to be able to stand up for themselves,"- Hillary Clinton

Halfway through 2023; while the mainstream Hindi Cinema is still in love with the chiffon sarees and the snow-clad mountains; the Indian Hindi OTT did a great job in showcasing some 'real' women - women we know, women we live with, women who book a cab to work, women who sweat it out to earn a living, women who fight their battles at work and at home to earn a respectable living.

I couldn't help but curate a list of women who I particularly found to be interesting, real and gorgeously complex in their roles on OTT -

Lipika in Night Manager

In a brilliantly portrayed role by Tillotama Shome, who is having a fantabulous 2023, Lipika is the working woman who fights for the right and is determined to make that impact she desires. A role played by Olivia Colman in the original version, Lipika is seen to struggle with the shackles of power in the system of her work, is about to embrace motherhood but is determined to get her work tasks done and is soft spoken but firm and commands her to be taken seriously. Sprinkles of different attributes of Lipika are present with functional women around us who respect their work and strive to be taken seriously.

Niloufer in Jubilee

Wamiqa Gabbi portrayal of Niloufer was refreshing in the critically acclaimed Jubilee this year. The series, although set in a different era, had characters that were very relatable to existing scenarios. Niloufer represented every woman who is not blessed with the privilege of birth, wealth and opportunities but is not scared to pursue the ambitions she feels she rightfully deserves. Her charm remains her only means and she utilizes it tactfully; she isn't the prey here but rather hunts for hers. She doesn't want to be apologetic as the system isn't fair either.

Seema in Lust Stories 2

Both the women in this section of the anthology deserve their own spinoff. Amruta Subhash plays a domestic help - a section of workforce that often does not gets the recognition or respect it deserves, especially when women who usually hire them, themselves treat them disrespectfully. Konkona Sen Sharma's anthology shows how an urban woman's ambitious careers, lifestyle and independence are often powered by another woman, who ends up running the house to earn a small percentage of the working household's income. The dynamics are tricky as both sections are tempted to step toes. As an example shown in this case - many a times somestic helps are often trying to get more from the place they work, crossing lines because they know that they provide an important muscle to this career-driven woman who cannot figure out cooking, washing, cleaning and cannot chase a lizard that has entered her home in this case.

The working woman on the other hand is always trying to get a little more help than she has settled for, as the law does not documents KRAs here. The little extra help can turn into more minutes at work, some extra rest and one less work to manage at home. Seema is seen to be that domestic help who knows her worth and how she stands in this equilibrium in an insanely expensive city.

Jagruti Pathak in Scoop

A fictional version of a real-life incident, Jagruti played by Karishma Tanna is shown as a multi-tasking superwoman in Scoop. Hansal Mehta's series humanises Jagruti and does not fail to single out every personal and professional responsibility taken by Jagruti. A bread winner for a family of multi-generations, Jagruti behind all the accolades of a prosperous designation, is also a working, single-mom who wants to win the best things for her son and the family. She is ambitious and at the same time a loving mother and a proud daughter of her family. Her happiness revolves around the little things at home and the charisma that her work brings to her.

Anjali Bhaati in Dahaad

Sonakshi Sinha's portrayal of a police officer belonging to a lower caste is that of a passionate, aggressive and fearless woman placed in a difficult work situation. She is not only tackling her biases she faces of her birth, but also the gender. This double whammy situation often makes her work harder than her other colleagues, compels her to prove her point a little more vehemently than the rest. She is often reminded of her place in the society by traditional old men, colleagues and sometimes even by her own mother who coaxes her to settle into a marriage of compromise - because at the end of the day that is what that matters. All these incidents are almost a part of Anjali's daily life, but she continues to march ahead and focuses on her end goal - which is solving the case in hand.

Mahima Basor in Kathal

Another depiction of a police officer belonging to a lower caste, this character played by Sanya Malhotra has a satirical take. Mahima is seen to have secured respect, position and relatively more power compared to Anjali in Dahaad; hence she smartly uses her position to make an impact rather than wait to receive orders to get to the core of her job.

She tackles patriarchy with humor; "bachpan se mujhe haddiya todne ka shauk hai," Mahima tells another male colleague. During her journey in solving the case of the missing girl, she constantly reminds people of how her education and work is way more superior to what her surname is and commands things to be done and eventually reaches her goal. Both Anjali and Mahima represent women who have managed to emerge from the boundaries set by the society that usually force women to get compromise, quit jobs, not ask questions and remain in the kitchen.

With limited choices and real scenarios, these characters depict Indian women with lines, voice, vulnerable, and valuing themselves. OTT has helped develop some really layered characters for Indian entertainment and I cannot wait for the rest of 2023 to yearning for more.