Cinema has long romanticized marriage, which is often portrayed as a promise with a happily ever after. But there are films that choose to tell a different truth, one that many women live but rarely speak about.
Stories that explore how a woman’s identity often dissolves into a pile of silent sacrifices after she says ‘I do’.
With Mrs., now streaming on OTT platform ZEE5 Global, that conversation has reached a new peak.
It joins a league of films that have made audiences pause, think, and rethink the realities of womanhood in marriage.
Here are four films, across major streaming platforms, that challenge the very notion of marriage, especially for a woman.
Mrs.
Cast: Sanya Malhotra, Nishant Dahiya and Kanwaljit Singh
Language: Hindi
A woman’s life changes after marriage. But how often does anyone ask her how she feels about it? Mrs. does not tell a loud story. It does not show physical violence or overt cruelty. But in its silence lies its power.
Sanya Malhotra delivers a performance so hauntingly real that it is impossible to look away.
She plays Richa — a woman who was once full of life, but slowly dissolves into the expectations placed upon her.
Since its premiere on ZEE5 Global, Mrs. has not only shattered streaming records but has also become the most searched film on Google.
But beyond all this, it has become a cultural conversation, with women across the world seeing their own self in Richa’s journey.
English Vinglish
Cast: Sridevi, Adil Hussain, Priya Anand and Navika Kotia
Language: Hindi
Marriage gives women many things, such as companionship, security and a family. But sometimes, it takes away something that is far more important, i.e. self-worth.
The late Sridevi’s English Vinglish is the story of a woman who is loved, but not respected.
Shashi is a devoted wife and a perfect homemaker. And yet, to her family, she is ‘just’ those things.
Her inability to speak English becomes a source of mockery and an excuse to look down on her.
Streaming on ZEE5 Global, English Vinglish is a film about reclaiming dignity. And in doing so, it reminds every woman that she is more than the roles she plays.
Thappad
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Dia Mirza and Pavail Gulati
Language: Hindi
It was just one slap. That’s what everyone tells Amrita after her husband hits her in front of a room full of people. They tell her that one slap isn’t a reason to leave, and that it was a moment of anger.
But that is exactly what Thappad forces you to question — why is a woman always expected to tolerate and endure?
Taapsee Pannu’s performance is breathtaking in its restraint. Her character doesn’t seek revenge. She simply decides — if one slap is acceptable, then this is not the life she wants.
Thappad started a national conversation on domestic violence and emotional neglect in marriages, a topic that was long ignored.
Currently streaming on Prime Video, this film and its message remain powerful even today.
Tribhanga
Cast: Kajol, Tanvi Azmi, Mithila Palkar and Kunaal Roy Kapur
Language: Hindi
Not all battles are fought inside a marriage. Some are fought after it. Some women walk away, not just from their husbands but from the entire idea of what a woman should be.
Kajol’s Tribhanga tells the story of three generations of women. Each one chose to live on her own terms, and each one paid the price for it.
It explores the judgment and the loneliness left by choosing yourself in a world that wants you to conform.
Streaming on Netflix, Tribhanga is an emotional reminder that women who break the rules are always punished for it. But as these women prove, choosing yourself is always worth it.
