TOI article on women's day

The small screen has always had brought the best of the female protagonists who have made an emphatic mark on the viewer's mind.

While women characters told the stories of women empowerment and brought forth various interesting aspects of the society, there have been some female protagonists in English and Hindi soaps who've gone on to become evergreen characters and sometimes even role models that almost every woman relates to. Here's a look at some of the most powerful characters of television who were changemakers in their own way.

Anandi, Balika Vadhu
This one needs one big thumbs up for many reasons. One, the character of the protagonist Anandi is a potent cocktail of endurance, perseverance and a strong will to make life better. While Anandi's character sketch was masterfully done, the viewer found an immediate connect to her story that addressed many issues that still plague the Indian society from thinking 'liberation for women', especially socially.

Sona, Housewife Hai ...
Perky Suhasi Dhami gives another angle of interest to the character of Sona, the show aptly titled Housewife Hai...Sab Jaanti Hai brings to the fore the everyday challenges of the average Indian housewife. The protagonist's point of view is just a reflection of what's going in every Indian woman's life - including kitchen politics and so on

Priya, Bade Acche Laggte Hai
For one moment, the social networking fraternity could not but stop raving about Priya's bold moves in a sizzling love scene that generated lots of viral viewership. Well, there is more to Priya than the Ram-Priya romantic angle. Priya, played by Sakshi Tanwar has it all to make it a point. And the urge within to make life more beautiful around her is what's winning her brownie points in terms of fan following.

Pratigya, Mann Ki Awaaz
The story certainly revolved around cause and effect in the show. What stood out the most was the emphatic Pratigya, played by Pooja Gor, who braved the frontiers of conformity around her. From an ambitious student to a married protagonist reaching out when the situation called for a change in societal circumstances, she grabbed all the required eyeballs as long as the show was on air. The soon to be launched second season of the show keeps every fans wait in anticipation.

Sandhya, Diya Aur Baati...
Great expectations certainly need one to make some sacrifices. This is what Sandhya's story in the show tells every Hindi soap lover. What has clicked with the audience is the way each day the protagonist Sandhya, played by Deepika Singh, faces many difficult frontiers including the kitchen politics only to emerge a winner on any given day. No wonder this daily show has been holding high in terms of maximising reach by garnering more TRPs and fan power in its kitty, thanks to a powerful yet subtle portrayal of the character.

Archana, Pavitra Rishta
While almost every middle-class Indian woman's story bears a semblance to Archana's character in Pavitra Rishta, what made Archana played by Ankita Lokhande, strike a lovely chord with the audience is her constant endeavour to weather hurdles in life. The script also unraveled adeptly the different subtleties in her character which only enhanced the intrigue value resulting in every fan pondering over 'what's next for Archana'.

Laali, Agle Janam Mohe...
A role which catapulted actor Ratan Rajput to the showbiz elite, the character of Laali of Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Ki Jo earned all the eyeballs and TRPs giving other prime time shows a run for their money, err TRPs, rather. Strategically launched when the small screen was eyeing the rural entertainment pie, Laali's character came across as a stealer which included the rigours of women faced in interior parts of India.

On International Women's Day, TOI raises a toast to telly's 'working women'

On International Women's Day, Indian television's power-puff girls manage to make their presence felt in the 20 minute screen time granted to them. So you have Sakshi Tanwar, (a teacher in Bade Achhe Lagte Hain); Kritika Kamra (a doctor in Kuch Toh Log Kahenge); Heena Khan (a businesswoman in Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai); Jayshree Venkatramanan (a journalist in Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuchh Kaha 2); Toral Rasputra (a teacher in Balika Vadhu); Ankita Sharma (a restaurateur in Amrit Manthan); Drashti Dhami (a hairstylist in Madhubala — Ek Ishq Ek Junoon); Mona Singh (a restaurateur in Kya Huaa Tera Vaada); Sargun Mehta (a journalist in Kya Huaa Tera Vaada); Jennifer Winget (a teacher in Saraswati Chandra) and Sheetal Shah (a cop in Har Yug Mein Ayega Ek — Arjun).

So what prompts the trend of working women amid counterparts who are content to be stay-at home wives /moms? Prashant Bhatt, fiction head of a GEC shares, "Television as a medium plays a major role in influencing the masses and creating role models. Most shows today have lead protagonists who instill confidence and evoke social consciousness. Similarly, our soaps are also showcasing characters that would capture the attention of young women. These characters have a universal appeal and connect with the viewers."

And what do producers feel about these winds of change? Producer Sudhir Sharma says, "The general mindset about women is changing and today's women are more independent, which is reflected in soaps too. Audiences like their reflection in the characters and producers want to tap on this general shift in the today's world."
And it comes as a welcome change for the actresses as well who feel closer to such roles. Sargun Mehta says, "It's appropriate to show such career oriented women on television as people want to see content which is aspirational and at the same time closer to reality." Deepika Singh confesses, "My role of a small town girl wanting to become an IPS officer can be any girl's story."

Times sure are changing as career-women are making strong statements. So here's wishing the fairer sex, a Happy, 'soapy' Women's Day, sans the tissues!