The She Saga completes ten glorious years – years of offering a safe space for women to cheer each other, extend warmth and support, offer advice, applause, and a shoulder to cry on.
As a mirror to society and our inner selves, films speak to us in an intimate way. And some films seem to embody the very spirit of The She Saga.
These 10 unique films come to my mind when I think about TSS:
Queen (Hindi)
Life is unpredictable and can wallop us. When things don’t turn out as planned, it feels like the end of the road. But life is so much more than one setback, however shattering it may seem at that point. Queen is a film that highlights self-love and acceptance in the face of societal snubbing. It is also a movie that celebrates female bonding and genuine friendships between women. Something that TSS has offered us over the years: a platform to love and cherish ourselves, to help each other succeed, and to lend a willing ear to each other. I have found my friends from TSS!
English Vinglish (Hindi)
The world is your oyster if you have confidence and self-belief! An average homemaker decides to learn English to help negotiate herself better in the world. Hitherto bullied and shamed by her own family members, she soon discovers facets she didn’t know existed in herself. A new self-love washes over her; she blooms and rises to her true stature. Something that many members of TSS have done after joining this platform and sharing their experiences.
Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (English)
Everyone is entitled to dreaming and to fulfilling their dreams—even a sixty-plus, homely, house-cleaning lady struggling to make two ends meet—who fancies a designer dress clearly beyond her means. Because dreams have no expiry date. Something women at TSS believe. We have so many late bloomers in this group, who have succeeded in transforming their own lives and those of others, despite limited means. Christian Dior or Versace, we are worth it, if that is what we desire!
Life is Beautiful (English)
Circumstances don’t define us, our attitudes do. When a cheerful, simple-hearted library worker, Guido, faces life in a concentration camp with his small son and wife, he does his best to shield the child from its mind-numbing horrors. He uses every ounce of his native intelligence, humanity, and wit to keep things light and optimistic. The grin on his face never leaves him, lighting the lives of those around him. We at TSS believe the same – even in the darkest of times, there’s something we can do to make things better.
Dear Zindagi (Hindi)
The She Saga platform constantly emphasizes mental wellness above everything else. Something echoed by the Hindi film Dear Zindagi, which spoke of the importance of acknowledging your emotions and seeking help/therapy when required. The mentally disturbed, emotionally fragile protagonist admits she needs help. She seeks psychological therapy, faces her fears, and turns her life around. We are human, after all—not perfect, ideal creatures. When we need to talk, TSS is the platform that encourages healthy discussions on everything from mental hang-ups to body shaming, from financial planning to children and husband problems.
Mona Lisa Smile (English)
Marriage and family don’t define a woman’s worth. These are part of the whole, not the whole of a woman’s life. Mona Lisa Smile has a feisty art professor urge young girl students to be more than just wives and mothers. To break the mold, to be authentic rather than people-pleasers. Women needn’t be suspicious and envious of each other. Seeing members genuinely cheer for each other at TSS, we believe it.
Pink (Hindi)
Saying a firm no to patriarchy and sexual aggression is what TSS always advocates. No matter how we dress or behave, no one has the right to misbehave with women. Pink made the slogan, “No means No,” resonate in every Indian household. Though how far it has reflected in the mindset of Indian men is yet to be seen, this slogan has now become ingrained in all women’s minds at least, prompting them not to take sexual abuse lying down. The She Saga spirit echoes this mindset.
Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (Hindi)
You live only once, but you die every day. You need an open mind for experiencing life’s true beauty. This film embodies the TSS motto of living each day fully, to the best of one’s potential. To mingle without judgement, to face our fears head-on, to give all our wild dreams a chance to get fulfilled. I myself found courage to write about my innermost fears after reading the posts of some inspiring women of TSS.
The Great Indian Kitchen (Malayalam)
Rebellion doesn’t always mean shouting from rooftops or marching on the streets. It begins at home. When a girl—crushed under the drudgery of kitchen duties day and night, saddled with an unappreciative husband—finally decides enough is enough and lashes out. Throws away her chains, breaks free. Hasn’t the TSS group shared countless stories of its members slowly reclaiming their spaces in their homes and outside? Of standing up to abuse and saying no to patriarchy?
Parama (Bengali)
A seemingly contented housewife discovers what it means to be appreciated, loved, and desired as a sensuous woman after years of living as wife, mother, and daughter-in-law. She accepts the love of a man other than her husband, who has the eyes to recognize her as an individual—as a person worthy of love and sensual gratification. TSS encourages women to put themselves first, to never feel ashamed of their bodies, to always be open to love and self-fulfillment.
These films are not the only ones that reflect the TSS spirit; there may be several more. But while we celebrate the completion of a decade of this unique platform, these feisty movies came to my mind.
Feel free to add your recommendations to the list, ladies.
By Barnali Roy
Presently a Blogger and Content Writer, Barnali Roy has been a corporate employee and faculty for Business Communication, HR, and Soft Skills in the past. An avid reader, cine-lover, foodie, crossword and travel enthusiast, she writes on diverse niches ranging from food and health, to motivation, emotional growth and self-development. She can be contacted at barnaliroy18@gmail.com
One Response
Very apt choice. Kudos