TV serials with strong woman leads, ‘Naamkaran’, ‘Neema Denzongpa and others- check the list here

Gone are the days when women's roles in TV serials were restricted to playing the love interest, the doting bahu, or the tyrant mother-in-law. As time passed b,d financial independencedecision making autonomy became central to women’s lives, and storytelling in television evolved alongside society. Today, a woman’s role in a TV serial is written keeping the evolution of society and modern times in mind. Whether it is Mini, forcing her mother to give love a second chance in Patiala Babes, or Anvita being the breadwinner of her family in Itti Si Khushi. Women in television are no longer the damsel in distress waiting to be rescued. Here are a few tv shows that celebrate women who run the show.

Produced by Jamnadas Majethia, Pushpa Impossible stars Karuna Pandey essaying the role of a middle class, ambitious single mother. Pushpa, lives in the Bapodra Chawl of Mumbai with her children: Ashwin, Chirag, and Rashi. But, despite being in harsh circumstances, Pushpa has a smile on her face. She finds humour in the silliest things in order to keep herself happy. She is the sole breadwinner, emotional anchor and also her children’s best friend. What makes her extremely relatable to all the homemakers and mothers is that she is not perfect. She makes mistakes while juggling her duties, is flawed and does not try to be perfect. She learns and evolves and that's what is the best part of her personality.

The serial chronicles the life of Neerja, a girl whose mother works as a sex worker in the red light district of Kolkata. Despite her circumstances, Neerja's mother, Protima is determined to make her daughter’s life better than her own. Neerja’s life grows up around sex workers but despite being exposed to the dark side of society, Neerja does not turn bitter. She is raised by women who refused to be let down despite being shamed by society for their profession. Neerja becomes the apple of everyone’s eyes as she grows up. Her mother and the brothel ladies aim to protect her from Didun, who aims to sell her off for a handsome price. As Neerja grows up, her sole aim is to make the lives of sex workers better. Even though she is fighting resistance from Didun, she remains determined about her intentions. Neerja’s story is a master class on strength and resilience.

Neema Denzongpa tells the story of a North-eastern girl who elopes from her home with her lover to begin a life in Mumbai. As a naive Neema enters the city of dreams, she struggles to make a place of her own. She is ridiculed primarily due to her looks and also denied opportunities because of her roots. Even though Neema manages to win over Suresh’s mother, she is faced with resentment when she gives birth to three daughters. Neema is then thrown out of the house along with her children and left to fend for herself. But, despite her hardships, Neema manages to bring up her daughters really well. She tries her best to attend to her needs and even teaches them to be responsible about their finances. Neema’s journey from a naive north-east girl to a strong, independent mother raising kids to have opinions of their own is refreshing to watch.

Binddii is the story of a girl who is born in a prison cell. Her mother Kajal, is falsely accused of a crime that she did not commit. But even in prison among the other inmates, Binddii finds freedom. Ironically, it is the women who are accused of being wrong by society who empower Binndii and instill values in her. The real challenge arises when Binddii is asked to return to the real world and lead a normal life. Binddi’s journey from being an inmate to an independent woman is empowering. As she steps out into the real world, she uses education to ensure justice to her grieving mother. The best part about Binddi’s story is that, despite the harshest of circumstances, she refuses to be a victim of circumstance. She always finds herself a way out of situations which leaves even adults astonished.

Advocate Anjali Awasthi, is a courtroom and romance drama television series where the titular character is a lawyer fighting the system. Anjali is struggling to make a name for herself in a male-dominated world. At the same time, she is also battling the stigma of being her father’s daughter, a defamed lawyer. However, fate takes a turn when Anjali gets a case against a high profile businessman. It is her make or break chance for her as her opponent is one of the most distinguished lawyers in the country. Through Anjali’s claim to fame the viewers also get a sneak peek about the loopholes in the system. The problems in governance, law implementation, justice, jurisdiction, and women’s safety are very well addressed in the series.

Conceptualized by renowned filmmaker, Mahesh Bhatt, ‘Naamkaran’ is about a love child Avni, who is ridiculed constantly due to her illegitimate birth. Avni’s mother is a Muslim while her father is bred in an orthodox Hindu household. Their religious differences become one of the reasons why Aashis’s mother, Daywanti, refuses to accept Avni. With passing time, Avni grows up earlier than her age. She takes on becoming the emotional anchor of the family. She defends her mother against public shaming and confronts Daywanti for her archaic ideals. As the storyline progresses, Avni’s grit and resilience get stronger. She parents her usurped brother, Amol, who stands up for what she believes is right and even ensures justice to her deceased parents. Avni’s story, from being a fearless independent child to an adult navigating modern day problems with ease, strikes a chord with women of all ages.