So how many of you have been surfing through Netflix and have come across the category “movies with a strong female lead” and simply cruised along, not giving it any further thought?
But Mumbai based illustrator Shivani Gorle felt the category hit her at a deeper level as she wondered why there was a need for such a film category anyway. This was what led to the birth of her ‘Queens on Screen’ series which was devised to further her feminist views and thoughts on how the state of gender equality is still not established in either the Bollywood or Hollywood film industry.
“Why can’t there just be regular movies with both genders playing equally strong and well-rounded characters?” were her words on the topic. “I felt like there was a lot more room for gender equality in the film industry, especially in the 21st century.”
The series features a number of circular illustrations of some of Gorle’s favourite strong female leads from both Bollywood and Hollywood movies along with a quote that gives voice to the character’s feminine strength. For her, this is a step towards a time where a strong female lead can coexist with her male counterpart without warranting her own Netflix category.
Some of the other popular illustrations include:
