Watch these films to remember the resilience and the challenges faced by the girl child

International Day of the Girl Child, is observed globally on October 11, to increase awareness about gender inequality, equal access to education, nutrition, legal rights, medical care, and protection from discrimination, violence and forced child marriage. The grassroots reality is however not very reassuring as the world over, gender based violence and discrimination continue to hit the headlines. Here is our list of films that you can watch to be aware of the resilience, strength and also the heartbreaking reality of being born a girl. 

200 Hallo Ho: A sexist milieu is hard enough for a girl child to cope with but a Dalit female body is at even a greater risk of violence and violation in a caste conscious and discriminatory society. This Yoodlee production is helmed by Sarthak Dasgupta and is based on countless incidents of the systematic sexual violence against Dalit women. Inspired by true events, this thought provoking tale is headlined by Rinku Rajguru who exemplifies a young girl’s determination to not just rise above her own circumstances but to fight to get justice for others. The film also stars Amol Palekar, Barun Sobti, Sahil Khattar, Saloni Batra, Upendra Limaye, Indraneil Sengupta and Flora Saini.

Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl: This 2020 Sharan Sharma directorial and Karan Johar production celebrates the inspiring trajectory of Gunjan Saxena, one of  India's first female air-force pilots in combat. The most extraordinary aspect of the film is however the sensitive and tender nurturing extended by a father to a daughter who refused to conform to a safe life and took the chance to defy all odds to become a pilot. The film shows how patriarchy obstructs girls at every step and also how with just a little bit of encouragement, they can achieve the seemingly impossible. The film starred Janhvi Kapoor in the lead alongside Pankaj Tripathi and Angad Bedi.

This Mother's Day, watch the heartwarming film Secret Superstar that highlights the unbreakable bond between a mother and her daughter. The movie follows a teenage girl who aspires to be a singer and is supported by her mother, who becomes her biggest cheerleader. Zaira Wasim's outstanding performance in the lead role will leave you inspired and touched. The film also addresses important social issues such as feminism, gender equality, and domestic violence, making it an emotionally charged and impactful watch. Produced by Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao, Secret Superstar is a cinematic masterpiece that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling in your heart, and is available to stream on Netflix. 

The Sky Is Pink: This is an unforgettable story based on the life of Aisha Chaudharyan, an extraordinary young girl who died young of an incurable illness but left behind an indelible legacy of love and hope. It is also a tribute to a mother’s deathless love for her daughter. The film presents a gentle counterpoint in a world where daughters are often considered less precious than sons and even killed in the womb. This story however showcases a mother’s valiant fight to save the life of a daughter who suffered from severe combined immunodeficiency and pulmonary fibrosis and could not live a normal life, from the time she was born. Written and directed by Shonali Bose and produced by Roy Kapur Films, RSVP Movies, and Purple Pebble Pictures, in association with Ivanhoe Pictures, the film starred Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim and Rohit Suresh Saraf.  

Ajji: Violation of marginalised girl children is commonplace and often hits the headlines and in many cases remains unreported. This Yoodlee production and Devashish Makhija directorial is a wrenching tale of the rape of a little girl in a slum and delienates the apathy of the justice system to her violation. The film reminds us of similar cases that happen routinely and are forgotten quickly till another harrowing episode is reported. What makes the film different is the way the silent anger of a grandmother takes over the narrative and orchestrates revenge. The film reminds that every little girl has value and must be cherished and protected not just by her loved ones but the society in which she lives and the law that is meant to watch over her but often looks away. The film stars Sushama Deshpande, Sharvani Suryavanshi, Abhishek Banerjee, Sadiya Siddiqui, Vikas Kumar, Manuj Sharma, Sudhir Pandey, Kiran Khoje, and Smita Tambe.