7 Movies That Showed Female Pleasure in The Most Dignified Way

For decades, female sexuality in Indian cinema was either ignored, dismissed, or heavily objectified. Women were rarely seen as independent sexual beings. More often than not, their desires were overshadowed by male fantasies, or the portrayal leaned on stereotypes and sensationalism, films like Mastizaade or Raaz being prime examples. But over the years, a quieter shift has taken place. A growing number of filmmakers are choosing to portray women’s pleasure with honesty, empathy, and agency.

From showing female masturbation to lesbian love and desires beyond the confines of marriage, these seven Indian films helped push the conversation around women’s sexuality forward.

Movies That Showed Female Pleasure

Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare (2020)

Directed by Alankrita Shrivastava, this film follows two cousins, Dolly and Kajal, navigating their personal and sexual identities. It explores how women break out of traditional roles, asserting control over their bodies and choices. As one character says, “I just want to feel something for myself.”

Angry Indian Goddesses (2015)

Touted as India’s first female buddy movie, Angry Indian Goddesses revolves around seven women at a bachelorette party in Goa. It boldly touches on themes like homosexuality, caste, consent, and gender politics, while also celebrating women’s friendship and their right to pleasure.

Biriyaani (2019)

Sajin Baabu’s Malayalam film unflinchingly portrays female sexual frustration. The lead character, a poor Muslim woman in Kerala, confronts the oppressive norms of both patriarchy and religion. The film portrays her unfulfilled desires with a raw realism that’s rarely seen on Indian screens.

Margarita With A Straw (2014)

Directed by Shonali Bose, this powerful film follows Laila, a young woman with cerebral palsy, as she explores her sexuality and relationships. The film breaks taboos around disability and sex, asking vital questions like, “Do people with disabilities get to be seen as sexual beings?”

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Lipstick Under My Burkha (2016)

One of the most unapologetic films about female desire in Indian cinema, Lipstick follows the lives of four women from different backgrounds. Through their stories, the film explores themes of fantasy, repression, rebellion, and sexual autonomy. "It’s not about men. It’s about freedom," the film subtly suggests.

Parched (2015)

Set in rural Rajasthan, Parched tells the story of three women, Rani, Lajjo, and Bijli, fighting against patriarchy, abuse, and shame. The film shows how desire and identity are not luxuries but fundamental to a woman’s sense of self.

Fire (1996)

Deepa Mehta’s path-breaking film was one of the first to portray a romantic and sexual relationship between two women. Fire received both critical acclaim and controversy for its open depiction of female homosexuality. It was a turning point in Indian cinema’s engagement with queer love.

Indian cinema still has a long way to go when it comes to normalising female pleasure and sexuality. But these films have paved the way, portraying women not just as romantic partners, but as individuals who seek intimacy, fulfilment, and self-expression on their own terms.

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