It’s the beginning of a new year which means a fresh new lineup of movies are coming to our theatres. Movies could be an escape from your reality or a story that mirrors society, either way, it’s a getaway from your daily lives. This month, we had Captain Miller, Merry Christmas, and Salaar who gave us interesting and meaningful roles for women. When we talk about representation, we are collectively looking at their character’s impact on the storyline. Assessing their character arcs, their influence on the hero’s or villain’s life, and their overall depth and development, we have our picks from January :

1. Radha Rama : Sriya Reddy- Salaar

Radha is the daughter of the King of Khansaar, a fictional kingdom in the movie. When her father, the king, leaves the city, she resumes the throne as the acting King. It’s refreshing to see a female antagonist in such a hero-driven film and Sriya Reddy aces her depiction as the composed yet effective villain. She is powerful and intelligent, not brash and unreasonable, and a well-written antagonist to be sure. 

2. Velmathi: Priyanka Mohan- Captain Miller

Velmathi is a strong woman, she decides to take matters into her own hands. The woman is ready for action, with her saree tucked in and a gun ready to be used as her dispersal. Priyanka Mohan shined in this role, which is quite a refreshing change from the stereotypical roles she was offered in her previous projects. 

3. Thaenu: Nivedhithaa Sathish – Captain Miller

Thaenu knows what needs to be done, even if it hurts her physically or emotionally, her life is for the service of her people. She isn’t afraid to question the system and the society. Her powerful dialogues add a layer of intrigue, she makes you think and relate. A breakthrough actor, Nivedhitaa was a surprising revelation in this film.  

4. Maria: Katrina Kaif – Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas is one of the best performances of her career, the grace, the depth, the dignity, and the timing, she has perfected everything in this one role. Maria is flawed and that’s the beauty of the character, she is beautiful and she knows it and she manipulates with her charm. There is a quiet intensity in her eyes, but she is also fun-loving and living in the moment.