Beyond 2D women: pop culture that breaks the glass mould of stereotyped women

I was watching a Romcom movie yesterday which turned out to be a snooze fest but what pained me more was the lack of fully fleshed out characters specifically the female lead or even the male lead for that matter. For a while now, I have come across movies or shows that showcase two dimensional female characters has been infuriating but on the flipside, many movies, books and shows have cracked the code to fully fledged characters who have real interests and ambition other than their other half or finding love.

These women are not likeable, don't mince their words, are unapologetic and that's what makes them real.

I want to revisit a few of these characters from movies, TV shows or books and indulge you in their complexity.

Undoubtedly, Phoebe Waller Bridge's characters would top this list, but apart from Fleabag, Villanelle from "Killing Eve" is unmissable. Villanelle is an unforgiving, brutal assassin who is fast, unpredictable and undefinable character. Her every move makes you hate her, love her and at times, even sympathize with her. Even beyond her profession, you see her rage, cry and be real, which is what makes this character worth remembering. This show is a gripping watch. Coupled with Sarah Oh as Eve, these two make an action packed show worth watching.

Coming to what show kept me up late last night, Pushpavalli from the show title of the same name is a funny, dark comedy where the character, goes one step beyond falling in love with a man, stalking him. Just when you think, she will draw the line after this incident, she will surprise you. Pushpavalli is funny, surprising and will take unexpected dark turns and will leave you in giggles. Smartly written by the stand up comedian, Sumukhi Suresh who also stars in the show, it is a must watch.

Straying away from shows and movies is a book I never thought I'd pick but glad I did. Draupadi in The Palace of Illusions written by Chitra Banerjee Devakaruni is a rendition of the epic Mahabharat, retold from a female's perspective. Having heard the tale from a Man's perspective this book offers a fresh, much needed perspective. Draupadi is shown as someone who is inquisitive, thoughtful and relatable to date, which is what makes the book a modern day classic, although parts of it are fiction, it is a refreshing  read and provokes you to look at both sides of a coin.

A recent obsession of mine is Maeve Wiley in Sex Education. Although the new season was a let down for me personally, the character of Maeve Wiley remains untouched by dull plot of the season. Although she looks and behaves tough, we see Meave as a sarcastic, witty teenager but soon realize there's more than what meets the eye. Portrayed as an avid reader of feministic literature, we see her grow through the shows. When asked what makes this character memorable, it is this incomparable poem she recites in the show, among many other things, that has stayed with me till date.

Lastly,  Aisha in Wake up Sid! I could not end the blog without mentioning this character. Aisha is shown as small city girl who moves to Bombay with a dream. Aisha is ambitious, and is not scared to tell that she prefers old Bollywood movies over Jazz for it's simplicity. What I appreciate is the attention to detail in showcasing both the male and female lead's personalities is impressive. We see Aisha all over the places she's been to, her room, her office, even on Sid, who is heavily influenced by her and changes for the better.

I have enjoyed researching for this post more than I could explain, but for now, I'm back to watching the second season of Pushpavalli, incase, you haven't, you should too!