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Top 30 memorable female characterisations in Tamil Cinema of the new millennium 

There have been worthy exceptions to the usual frivolous depiction of women in our cinemas, with some filmmakers giving us strong, multifaceted and fascinating female characters. These women are by no means perfect, but they have captured our hearts by being 'themselves', in their own special ways.
Here, we give you the top 30 powerful female characterisations from the our cinemas of the past two decades...
Here, we give you the top 30 powerful female characterisations from the our cinemas of the past two decades...
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In one of the most realistic characterizations ever, Anjali plays the bold and fiercely-independent Kani, who endures a 'nightmare' salesgirl job in a “one-stop-shop” in Chennai's busiest street.
In one of the most realistic characterizations ever, Anjali plays the bold and fiercely-independent Kani, who endures a 'nightmare' salesgirl job in a “one-stop-shop” in Chennai's busiest street.
In Poo, Parvathy plays Maari in a raw beautiful way, bringing to the fore the deep love and admiration that the selfless character develops for her cousin.
In Poo, Parvathy plays Maari in a raw beautiful way, bringing to the fore the deep love and admiration that the selfless character develops for her cousin.
Priya Mani slips into the character of the intense and borderline irrational village belle, Muththazhagu, with loads of authenticity and spontaneity, in Paruthiveeran.
Priya Mani slips into the character of the intense and borderline irrational village belle, Muththazhagu, with loads of authenticity and spontaneity, in Paruthiveeran.
Pooja is a complete natural as Rekha, a sex-worker who uses her charm to mask the agony of becoming a subsidiary in her own trade. She might seem strong, but deep inside, she is broken & aching.
Pooja is a complete natural as Rekha, a sex-worker who uses her charm to mask the agony of becoming a subsidiary in her own trade. She might seem strong, but deep inside, she is broken & aching.
Rajeev Menon's Sowmya is intense,ambitious and amiable; someone who chooses to hide it all under a cloak of apparent indifference and cold-heartedness, considering herself a jinxed woman.
Rajeev Menon's Sowmya is intense,ambitious and amiable; someone who chooses to hide it all under a cloak of apparent indifference and cold-heartedness, considering herself a jinxed woman.
Mani Ratnam's Amudha is in essence an oxymoron; an angel and a little monster at the same time, constantly in the habit of creating harmless havoc, but so adorably charming.
Mani Ratnam's Amudha is in essence an oxymoron; an angel and a little monster at the same time, constantly in the habit of creating harmless havoc, but so adorably charming.
To write a lovable, intense, and credibly-capricious character is no mean feat. GVM, in VTV, nails it in style with the characterization of Jessie, a smart mix of modern and traditional values.
To write a lovable, intense, and credibly-capricious character is no mean feat. GVM, in VTV, nails it in style with the characterization of Jessie, a smart mix of modern and traditional values.
Very rarely do we get to see a real woman in flesh and blood, complete with all her faults and insecurities in our cinemas! Radhamohan’s Archana is one such multi-dimensional character.
Very rarely do we get to see a real woman in flesh and blood, complete with all her faults and insecurities in our cinemas! Radhamohan’s Archana is one such multi-dimensional character.
The sensitivity with which Nandita Das' Dhanam gets portrayed in Azhagi, is proof of the writing potential of Thankar Bachchan, who incidentally created the character first for his novel ‘Kalvettu’.
The sensitivity with which Nandita Das' Dhanam gets portrayed in Azhagi, is proof of the writing potential of Thankar Bachchan, who incidentally created the character first for his novel ‘Kalvettu’.
Friendship, betrayal, heartbreaks, solace, sacrifices, and endurance – Selvaraghavan examines a variety of emotions through Yamini, an iron-willed woman who stands by her lifepartner, in Mayakkam Enna
Friendship, betrayal, heartbreaks, solace, sacrifices, and endurance – Selvaraghavan examines a variety of emotions through Yamini, an iron-willed woman who stands by her lifepartner, in Mayakkam Enna
Arguably, one of the most individualistic female leads, Mani Rathnam’s Taara, an aspiring architect living in Mumbai, who doesn’t hesitate to voice out her desires just as loudly as her partner.
Arguably, one of the most individualistic female leads, Mani Rathnam’s Taara, an aspiring architect living in Mumbai, who doesn’t hesitate to voice out her desires just as loudly as her partner.
Who decides the expiry date of a woman’s ambitions? Roshan Andrews' Vasanthi (Jyotika) puts her career on hold for the sake of her kids, and faces this question, when taken for granted by her family.
Who decides the expiry date of a woman’s ambitions? Roshan Andrews' Vasanthi (Jyotika) puts her career on hold for the sake of her kids, and faces this question, when taken for granted by her family.
Arguably one of Selvaraghavan’s most audaciously written characters, Anitha Pandyan is ruthless and determined; someone who has no qualms about flaunting her sexuality to get her job done.
Arguably one of Selvaraghavan’s most audaciously written characters, Anitha Pandyan is ruthless and determined; someone who has no qualms about flaunting her sexuality to get her job done.
With sensible films on father-daughter relationships becoming a rarity, Abhi’s character, played with spontaneity and grace by Trisha in ‘Abhiyum Naanum’, comes across as a whiff of fresh air.
With sensible films on father-daughter relationships becoming a rarity, Abhi’s character, played with spontaneity and grace by Trisha in ‘Abhiyum Naanum’, comes across as a whiff of fresh air.
Geetha is pure femme fatale; an attractive woman who is also smart and intelligent. GVM, in PKMC, pits his mysterious female lead against a troubled middle-ager in Chennai's commuter trains.
Geetha is pure femme fatale; an attractive woman who is also smart and intelligent. GVM, in PKMC, pits his mysterious female lead against a troubled middle-ager in Chennai's commuter trains.
As the roadside fish seller, Ezhil Mathi, who finds her passion in boxing, and succeeds against all odds, Rithika Singh is brilliant in Sudha Kongara's Irudhi Suttru.
As the roadside fish seller, Ezhil Mathi, who finds her passion in boxing, and succeeds against all odds, Rithika Singh is brilliant in Sudha Kongara's Irudhi Suttru.
Shivadaa is amazing as the ruthless and sharp-witted con artist, who targets blind men, makes them fall for her, and then loots them in Rohin Venkatesan's Adhe Kangal.
Shivadaa is amazing as the ruthless and sharp-witted con artist, who targets blind men, makes them fall for her, and then loots them in Rohin Venkatesan's Adhe Kangal.
Nayanthara's Madhivadhani IAS is fiery, yet vulnerable. She has a conscience, and goes all out to save the girl trapped in the bore-well. She’s less an impassive bureaucrat than an emotional leader.
Nayanthara's Madhivadhani IAS is fiery, yet vulnerable. She has a conscience, and goes all out to save the girl trapped in the bore-well. She’s less an impassive bureaucrat than an emotional leader.
Ram's Althea is surrounded by hell-hounds masquerading as men. She is hurt, and to heal, she needs to stand up to them. Perhaps fittingly, her name hints at the Greek word, althos (to heal).
Ram's Althea is surrounded by hell-hounds masquerading as men. She is hurt, and to heal, she needs to stand up to them. Perhaps fittingly, her name hints at the Greek word, althos (to heal).
Aruvi is all fire and ice, and Aditi Balan plays her beautifully. One moment, she is fiery enough to put a bullet into a man. And the next, she plays truth or dare with her hostages.
Aruvi is all fire and ice, and Aditi Balan plays her beautifully. One moment, she is fiery enough to put a bullet into a man. And the next, she plays truth or dare with her hostages.
As Jo, the guardian angel of Pariyerum Perumal, who stands with him through thick and thin, Anandhi is at her natural best in Mari Selvaraj's touching drama.
As Jo, the guardian angel of Pariyerum Perumal, who stands with him through thick and thin, Anandhi is at her natural best in Mari Selvaraj's touching drama.
Nag Ashwin's Nadigaiyar Thilagam stands tall because of Keerthy Suresh's portrayal of Savitri. The actor silences all of her naysayers with her magnificent take on the multidimensional actress.
Nag Ashwin's Nadigaiyar Thilagam stands tall because of Keerthy Suresh's portrayal of Savitri. The actor silences all of her naysayers with her magnificent take on the multidimensional actress.
96's Jaanu is more complex than what we see of her. She’s married with a child and yet stuck to an unfinished relationship. The thing that you cannot read through her makes Premkumar's writing special
96's Jaanu is more complex than what we see of her. She’s married with a child and yet stuck to an unfinished relationship. The thing that you cannot read through her makes Premkumar's writing special
Vetrimaaran's Padma in Vada Chennai is introduced with a memorable swear word. Her spunk and spirit may not have come through in entirety in the first part, but there's enough promise.
Vetrimaaran's Padma in Vada Chennai is introduced with a memorable swear word. Her spunk and spirit may not have come through in entirety in the first part, but there's enough promise.
Thiagarajan Kumararaja's Vembu, played with a disturbing sense of doomed actuality by Samantha, is perhaps one of the best-written female leads ever. She's matter-of-factly amoral & frighteningly real
Thiagarajan Kumararaja's Vembu, played with a disturbing sense of doomed actuality by Samantha, is perhaps one of the best-written female leads ever. She's matter-of-factly amoral & frighteningly real
In Game Over, Swapna, a rape survivor, gets her own version of retribution. Ashwin Saravanan's take on the the survivor’s journey, the trials and tribulations of her battle to recovery, is impressive
In Game Over, Swapna, a rape survivor, gets her own version of retribution. Ashwin Saravanan's take on the the survivor’s journey, the trials and tribulations of her battle to recovery, is impressive
IRIR's Tara comes across as an embodiment of free spirit. Ranjit Jeyakodi gives her the reins for the most part. She listens to her heart and knows when to call it quits.
IRIR's Tara comes across as an embodiment of free spirit. Ranjit Jeyakodi gives her the reins for the most part. She listens to her heart and knows when to call it quits.
Halitha's Amudhini, in Sillu Karupat shines a torch on the monotony and drudgery in the life of a homemaker. Sunaina's plays her with such world-weariness that the marital strife almost gets to you.
Halitha's Amudhini, in Sillu Karupat shines a torch on the monotony and drudgery in the life of a homemaker. Sunaina's plays her with such world-weariness that the marital strife almost gets to you.
Anita Udeep's Rita in 90 ML makes it to this list just for the way it takes on age-old stereotypes and tackles them with sheer contempt. Carefree & obstinate, Rita is flawed but lovable in her own way
Anita Udeep's Rita in 90 ML makes it to this list just for the way it takes on age-old stereotypes and tackles them with sheer contempt. Carefree & obstinate, Rita is flawed but lovable in her own way
When have mental illness and female desires been portrayed so sensitively? As the teenager with a serious muscular dystrophy condition, who wakes up to her sexuality, Ram's Sadhana is one of a kind.
When have mental illness and female desires been portrayed so sensitively? As the teenager with a serious muscular dystrophy condition, who wakes up to her sexuality, Ram's Sadhana is one of a kind.

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