Trailblazers, rage, social reformers, or evolutionists- all these words might fail to describe the courage of the early women in Indian movie industries who not only crushed the social norms but also set the path for future generations.
Their presence transformed Indian cinema into a platform of talent, cultural evolution, and empowerment.
In this story, let's learn about the early ladies of Indian cinema who opened the doors of the entertainment industry for other women. Let's start!
Kamlabai Gokhale: In 1913, Dadasaheb Phalke cast Durgabai Kamat and Kamlabai Gokhale, the mother-daughter duo, in his film 'Mohini Bhasmasur' which made history as having women in a movie for the first time.
However, the mother and daughter faced criticism in society due to the rigid social structure of that time.
Ruby Myers: Well-known by her stage name ‘Sulochana’, she started her career as a telephone operator and ultimately became one of the highest-paid actresses of her time, mainly in the silent movie era.
Esther Victoria Abraham: Also known as ‘Pramila’ she was born in Kolkata and acted in films like Ulti Ganga (1942), the initial version of Mother India.
Besides the actress also held the title “Miss India 1947” and was the first woman film producer.
Mary Ann Evans: Popularly known as ‘Fearless Nadia’, she was famous for her portrayal of a masked adventurer in the movie Hunterwali (1935).
Quite off to the era’s general norms, she swung from chandeliers, jumped off the cliffs, and fought on top of the running trains while also befriending lions.
Devika Rani: She was one of the pioneering actresses and producers in the Indian movie industry. She gained fame for her roles in movies like "Karma" (1933) and "Achhut Kanya" (1936).
Durga Khote: Renowned for her works in both Marathi and Hindi cinema, the actress was one of the first women from a high-caste influential family to join Indian cinema, breaking the era’s taboos against women.
"Ayodhyecha Raja" (1932) and "Mughal-e-Azam" (1960) are some of her iconic movies.