Bollywood Films have been synonymous with entertainment, drama, romance, and humour. But a few Bollywood films have also addressed important social issues that have made us think. Movies have been an important aspect of connecting the masses in a diverse country like India, and filmmakers accurately recognized this potential of movies. Also, films can influence audiences like no other. Let us tell you about films that raised and highlighted some important social issues in India.
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10 Bollywood Movies On Social Issues: Chhapaak
Chhapaak is a story that highlights the issue of acid attacks in India. Based on the real-life story of Laxmi Agarwal, a young woman tries to rebuild her life after a man throws acid on her. Further, the acid attack survivor relentlessly walks on her path to achieve justice and become financially independent. Lastly, her PIL filed in the Supreme Court of India with her lawyer compels the judiciary to amend laws for acid attack crimes.
Taare Zameen Par
This 90s throwback kids movie is based on the story of Ishaan, a dyslexic child who struggles with everyday tasks like tying a shoelace and writing common letters and words. Based on his carelessness and low marks, he is sent to boarding school, where he struggles to adjust until he encounters an art teacher who recognizes his struggle. The Bollywood movie on social issues focuses on the pressure on children to score good marks, ignorance, and taboos on dyslexia, highlighting that every child is unique.
Article 15
Article 15 focuses on a constitution prohibiting discrimination based on gender, caste, religion, place of birth, etc. The Bollywood movie is about a city-bred police officer who attacks the caste-based discrimination dismissed in rural India.
Udaan
Udaan perfectly captures the stories of middle-class youths, expressing their anguish and breaking away from the flight of dreams. The Bollywood movie on social issues is about four boys who are expelled from their school hostel after they are caught sneaking out from a hotel to watch a B-grade film.
Pink
This Bollywood movie is credited for popularising “No Means No” and #MeToo, which became popular after the film. The story is about a retired lawyer who takes up the case of a girl who has been molested by an influential man who tries hard to turn the tables and rather frame her in the case. The movie focuses on the significance of consent in a new way.
Nil Battey Sannata
Nil Battey Sannata revolves around the theme of female literacy and education in a good way. The plot is about the daughter of a household woman who drops out of high school. To motivate her to study, her mother joined the same school as her.
Pad man
Inspired by a real-life story, the movie is based on the journey of a man who goes beyond traditional society and makes low-cost, hygienic sanitary pads for women in the villages. Talking about Menstrual cycles has been considered taboo, and society has many Prejudices, myths, and ignorance among the masses.
Toilet – Ek Prem Katha
This is a mainstream Bollywood film based on the important social issue of proper toilets in Indian households and the suffering of women due to it. A woman decides to divorce her husband because he doesn’t have a washroom at home. So, the man takes up the challenge of going against the village and building a toilet for his wife.
A Thursday
Naina is a playschool teacher who holds 16 students as hostages. She demands that her 16 wishes be fulfilled against each child. The film highlights the struggle of a Rape victim who is unable to get justice which affects her mental health and sets her out for revenge.
Dhamaka
Dhamaka revolves around an Ex-TV news anchor who gets an alarm call on his radio show. He views it as an opportunity to come back as a prime-time TV anchor until the tables turn on him. The film highlights behind-the-scenes pressure in a newsroom and the striving for breaking news and TRP at the cost of conscience. Moreover, it also portrays how an ordinary man goes to any extent to seek an apology from a minister who didn’t deliver his duty properly.
In the comments section below, let us know your favourite Bollywood movie on social issues from this list.
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