6 Bollywood Romcoms With Social Messages You Shouldn't Miss

Films are supposed to be entertaining. But other than being entertainers films also influence perceptions of people thereby being agents of social change. We have witnessed some of our favourite films breaking stereotypes in their face and putting a spotlight on important social issues.

While romcoms are traditionally associated with feel good and happy endings these films have given us something to think about even after we have finished watching them. Read on and tell us how many of these films have you watched?

Here Are Some Of The Must Watch Romcoms With Social Messages:

1. TOILET-Ek Prem Katha

Toilet - Ek Prem Katha was a love story with a hidden message. The story revolves around a newly married couple living in a remote village.  The wife in the movie walks out of her husband’s home because she was told to defecate in the open due to the unavailability of a washroom in the home. She didn’t return until her husband builds a toilet for her. The movie highlights the importance to access to basic sanitation and  hygiene. (especially for women in rural areas). The men pee wherever they want whereas the women can only go to the toilet once in the day before dawn, for which they have to walk miles so that no one spots them while they pee. The film stars Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar as the leads and is supported by Anupam Kher, Sudhir Pandey and Divyendu Sharma.

2. EK LADKI KO DEKHA TO AISA LAGA

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha To Aisa Laga depicts the story of a girl Sweety in love with another girl. She comes out to her parents as a lesbian but at a later stage in the story. The movie unfurls the lives of the people belonging to the LGBTQ community who are discriminated against on a daily basis. It was the first commercial film which spoke about same-sex romance after section Section 377 was repleaded. The screenplay was written by Shelly Chopra Dhar and Gazal Dhaliwal.

A still from the film Ek Ladki ko Dekha to Aisa Laga

Read our interview with Gazal Dhaliwal here.

3. CHANDIGARH KARE AASHIQUI

Chandigarh Kare Ashiqui highlights the concept of gender inclusivity and the struggles of trans people in India. The story is of a Punjabi boy Manu, who is a bodybuilder from Chandigarh and is shown as a macho man. He falls in love with a Zumba teacher. Everything goes well till Manu finds out about Manvi's past and this causes disaster in their love story. Manvi is a transgender person and has undergone sex reassignment. The movie attempts to sensitise the audience regarding the identity of Transgenders people and their struggles. The film stars the film features Ayushmann Khurrana and Vaani Kapoor in pivotal roles.

4. SHUBH MANGAL ZYADA SAAVDHAN

A still from Shubh Zyada Saavdhan.

The film focuses on same-sex relationships in India and the attached stereotypes. Two men, Kartik and Aman, fall in love with each other. But the couple face opposition from Aman's family. The two attempt to win the family over. The movie tries to bring the LGBTQ community into mainstream society and make it more inclusive. The film stars Ayushmann Khurrana and Jitendra Kumar, in the lead roles and is ably supported by Neena Gupta, Gajraj Rao and Maanvi Gagroo.

5. PADMAN

Padman is based on India’s ‘Menstrual Man’, Arunachalam Muruganantham’s  real life story. Muruganantham notices his wife using a dirty cloth while menstruating. He tries to make her menstrual experience better and hygienic which eventually leads him to make a pad on his own. He ends up inventing a machine that produces low-cost sanitary pads. Everyone insults and makes fun of him. They call him a 'mad man'.  But his determination proves to be fruitful and he becomes the hero. The film by R. Balki, featured Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte and is based on Twinkle Khanna's fictional story The Legend of Lakshmi Prasad.

6. PREM ROG

The movie showed an immensely sensitive topic of widow remarriage. The movie starred Rishi Kapoor (Devdhar) and Padmini Kolhapure (Manorama) as lead actors. Devdhar tries to change the life of his childhood friend Manorama after she becomes a widow. At that time in which the movie is set, widows were treated very poorly, and boycotted from the community. These women were expected to spend their lives in misery.

These movies are more than just entertainment and facilitate change in societal narratives. These are ‘films with a message’ that help start difficult conversations.

Suggested Reading: Check Out These Bollywood Films On Social Issues