Bollywood Movies That Were Way Ahead Of Their Time

Much like humans, every film has a life span. However, some films are born much after they're released. This list will take you back to the movies that you may not have appreciated when they first came out but are seen in a different light today. Fire While the sexualisation of women has always existed in Bollywood, Deepa Mehta’sFire explicitly showed a lesbian relationship between a young woman and her older sister-in-law. Fire is a 1996 Indian-Canadian romantic drama film written and directed by Deepa Mehta and starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das. Filhaal Filhaal is a Bollywood film released in 2002 It stars Sushmita Sen, Tabu, Sanjay Suri and Palash Sen in the lead roles. When her best friend miscarries and is told she can never conceive a child again, Sia, an unwed woman, offers to be a surrogate mother to her and her husband’s child. Meghna Gulzar made her directorial debut with the film. Masoom A man finds out he has an illegitimate son, Rahul, whose mother has died. He brings him home to his wife, Indu, and their daughters. Masoom is a 1983 Indian drama film and directorial debut of Shekhar Kapur. Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi in lead roles. Taare Zameen Par Taare Zameen Par is a 2007 Indian drama film produced and directed by Aamir Khan Darsheel Safary stars as 8-year-old Ishaan, and Khan plays his art teacher. Ishaan, 8, is under severe pressure from being unable to do well in school. His new teacher diagnoses him with dyslexia and helps him and his parents deal with it. Salaam Bombay Salaam Bombay! revolves around the life of Krishna, a street child. Along with his personal story, the film progresses into themes of drug addiction, child labour. Salaam Bombay! is a 1988 Hindi film directed by Mira Nair. The theme of the film is the day-to-day life of children living on the streets of Bombay. Aastha Mansi is trapped into sex work by her friend. When her husband’s humble earnings aren’t enough, she makes it a regular thing to provide comforts for her school-going daughter. Aastha: In the Prison of Spring is a 1997 Bollywood film The film stars Rekha, Om Puri, Navin Nischol and Daisy Irani in the main roles. Margarita with a Straw Margarita with a Straw is a 2014 Indian drama film directed byShonali Bose. It stars Kalki Koechlin, who plays Laila, a teenager with cerebral palsy. Laila, a college girl with cerebral palsy, is wheelchair-bound and on a journey to discover her sexuality. She realises she’s bisexual. Chameli A distressed man meets a prostitute at a railway station, and goes from shaming her completely for her work, Chameli was released in India on 9 January 2004 It stars Kareena Kapoor and Rahul Bose, and was directed by Anant Balani. Water An Indo-Canadian film, Water focused on the lives of Hindu widows, and the rescue of a child widow. Water is a film written and directed by Deepa Mehta, The film is set in the year 1938 when India was still under British occupation. Child marriage was common practice back then. Mera Naam Joker The film revolves around the life of a circus clown. The nude scene features his childhood teacher, whom he had a crush and who inspired him to make the world laugh. Mera Naam Joker is a 1970 Hindi drama film directed by Raj Kapoor This film was the debut of Rishi Kapoor. Bombay Boys The level of profanity and homoerotic overtones earned the film critique in the country. It was said to portray an “Americanised India”. It follows the adventures of three young men in modern-day Mumbai. Julie Julie, a young Anglo-Indian Christian girl, gets pregnant by her Hindu boyfriend. Her mother is anti-abortion, and Julie is taken to a remote area for the length of her pregnancy. It also stars Nadira, and Sridevi as a child star. The film became a box office hit. The story of the film is based on social conventions regarding inter-caste marriage and unwed motherhood in India. Komal Produced by CHILDLINE India, this child-friendly film educates children on the concept of safe and unsafe touch. The 10-minute film centres around Komal, a happy little seven-year-old. She is sexually abused by her dad’s friend.