The Bollywood Director's Muse

The first name that comes to mind while talking about real life women being inspirations for movies is Mary Kom (2014). The recently released biographical drama, Mary Kom is a walkthrough of the struggle period of the star boxer M.C. Mary Kom starring the versatile actress Priyanka Chopra in the title role. The film covers events starting from Kom's revolt against her father to pursue a boxing career, to the restlessness after her marriage due to being separated from boxing, and to the anguish and pain with which she fought the World Championship knowing the fact that one of her children lay almost close to death. The movie was well received by the audiences, depicting the amount of respect for the woman who strives to glorify our nation at an international scale.

 

No One Killed Jessica (2011) was a political crime-thriller film which was not only critically acclaimed but also minted hugely at the box-office. The storyline is based on the gruesome murder of Jessica Lall as a consequence of built up rage of a politician's son. Concurrently the film also revolves around Jessica's sister, Sabrina Lall and her struggles against the Indian political system. Vidya Balan played the role of Sabrina, beautifully portraying the latter's initial determination and gradual surrender against the society. Rani Mukherjee's character of a journalist who played a key role in garnering justice is loosely related to the NDTV reporter Barkha Dutt. The long list of accolades is proof enough of how well the movie has done.

Another 2011 crime-thriller, the film Not A Love Story is also based on the vicious murder of Neeraj Grover in the year 2008. The news had caught many eyeballs for being one of the most dreadful killings. The talented actress Mahie Gill very convincingly played one of the accused Maria Susairaj. The film received positive reviews from almost all the critics given its realistic portrayal of the youth's aspirations and the extent to which they work to fulfill that goal.

 

Ragini MMS (2011) is another Bollywood movie who's paranormal theme has been taken from a real life incident that took place with a Delhi-based girl, Deepika. Kainaz Motivala, who plays Ragini is off for the weekend with her boyfriend, who wants to record their intimate moments to fulfill his dream of becoming an actor. The duo experience supernatural things happening with them thanks to the residential spirit of the house that they visit and Ragini barely survives the tragedy, leaving all her acquaintances dead.

The film Woh Lamhe... is said to be supposedly based on the life of the yesteryear actress, Parveen Babi. The movie is a tribute from Mahesh Bhatt to the actress who had played an instrumental role in his life during the struggling period of his career. Sana Azim, played by Kangana Ranaut is a popular Bollywood actress who acts as a lover and mentor to the struggling director Aditya Garewal (Shiney Ahuja), however she ends up losing her own-self amidst the struggle. The movie did not garner much critical or commercial success, but it had a heart rendering theme which tapped many.

 

One of the biggest hits of the year 2011, The Dirty Picture is a biographical drama of the South Indian actress, Silk Smitha. The movie is also said to be loosely based on Smitha's contemporaries Nylon Nalini, Disco Shanti and the Hollywood actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe. The movie features Vidya Balan in the lead role of Reshma, an aspiring actress who ultimately turns towards sensuous and erotic performances to ensure the critical success of her movies and is left with nothing in the end except for remorse and loneliness. The movie was amongst the highest grosser of the year and earned Balan the greatest accolades for her performance.

 

Writer: Pooja B.
Editors: Komal P. and Sonia R.
Graphics: Komal P.