Power Women

Catherine Tramell…Velma Kelly…Meredith Johnson. Apart from the fictitious nature of their existence and the fact that these prominent creations of cinema are on-screen criminals, there is another aspect that binds all three. Undeniably and quite obviously, they are all female. Though, they don’t simply fall into the category of ordinary women.

Women, as I see it, fall into four types. Now here, there’ll be plenty who’ll adapt a sceptical outlook to this post. I can almost hear it right now…“Who the f*** does he think he is to judge women? Who would read something of such limited perspective?!”…followed by a barrage of abuses in both Hindi and English, especially if the one remarking is an all-out feminist. But from my experience and exposure to the likes of the feminine kind, this is what I think...

1. Bimbos: The first kind is comprised of the ones who are happy to depend on others (their parents in the initial part of their life, and later on, that special someone) for everything, be it financial or emotional support or even making all their decisions. Not that they don’t care. It just doesn’t strike them to think on their own. And even if they do, they screw up everything and mostly, don’t even realise it. Very enthusiastically contributed by my cousin Namita are certain highly amusing phrases heard from the mouths of these bimbos all too often at Kamla Nehru (the all girls’ college where she’s doing Economics Honours), such as “OOOH! You’re wearing green shoes too??! Me Tooo!!!! Isn’t that amazing???”, and another squeal goes something like, “Are you wearing baby pink or shocking pink nail-polish?”… These, sadly, are omnipresent in all societies. The pop artist Pink's new controversial single 'Stupid Girls' dealt with celebrity bimbos, targetting Paris Hilton and Jessica Simpson in particular. The reason of controversy? Stupid Girls. Need I say more?

1. Smart Ass: Second, come those who are fairly independent and ambitious. They assume the stance of the one in charge at times, and unlike Type-1, they’re more than often successful at it. Trying hard to come off as more superior than men is their hobby, even if they’re inept at it (though this comes off mostly as cute rather than annoying). This kind can have varied intelligence levels, though none are totally idiotic. And mostly, it’s these kind of women that a guy with a head over his shoulders would most desire (Unless if he’s into the Dumb Blonde kind, i.e. type 1. In that case, he’s in it just for the bimbo’s lissom body and unconditional control that members of this kind offer over themselves).


2. The Unfortunate: The third constitute the forced and the oppressed...Prostitutes and Geisha to be precise. These have always fascinated me (a fascination disparaged by many friends as unhealthy and unnecessary). But it’s not the erotic links to their lifestyle that intrigue me, but their unique psychological condition that permits them to live their disgraced lives as outcasts free of guilt and remorse. Their pain-filled childhoods, the successful blocking of happier memories from the past, the ability to see the silver lining in the worst of situations and the innocence they possess in spite of their eroded reputation…that is what draws me towards their subject.


3. The fourth type is the one under the microscope in this post. Least common and most intimidating of all, a detailed elaboration follows…

Women have long been regarded as the weaker sex, and this is a piece of information that even the most unpromising and ignorant are aware of, bringing it into daily practice through the abuse of women (be it physical, mental or emotional) which especially we Indians are so accustomed to hearing about everyday. So much so, that it doesn’t even affect us anymore. And why is it so? Because the whole issue is pretty much taken for granted by commoners like us. I don’t refute the murky presence of emancipation organisations. I simply mean to say, that people who don’t indulge in this exploitation of women (like me, and hopefully you as well), treat it as a mere topic of interest or discussion. In this diverse world which is so full of opinions anyway, one particular opinion nevertheless holds firm in the minds of most men and many women, that is, that women really do constitute the weaker sex.

It is this belief which triggered the inevitable rise of the Power Woman. This corny term has been conjured up by Yours Truly, not because I’ve suddenly decided to indulge in the use of pathetic clichés, but because it encompasses most of the qualities which this broad spectrum of individuals tends to have. Somebody (or maybe it’s just me) once said, that whenever an opinion is formed, there’s always another one right ‘round the corner that opposes it. Consequently, the people who are not wholly convinced by the viewpoint that women are weaker than men are the ones who promoted the emergence of this breed of the human half.

Although such women do exist in reality, and a number of examples can be quoted (and will be, a little ahead), they’ve mainly come into the limelight through delightfully exaggerated characters conceived for many films and books, recurring often in literary and visual media.

What makes these ‘Power Women’ worth remark? A number of things, actually. Intricate personality traits differ from person to person, depending on whether she’s likeable or downright devilish. But there are a few qualities which exist more-or-less in all…

1. Unparalleled Confidence ... I don’t imply all the ‘we have mental strength, even if we’re physically weak’ bullshit that one gets to hear from all the females around. I mean a visible fearlessness towards all that is to come, and complete control over thoughts and actions.

1. A Limited Emotional Range… Things just don’t affect them as much as they would affect a normal person. Well…most things anyway. For example, failed business propositions, wrecked relationships et al, won’t cause them to brood and die of depression.

1. Time is of the Essence… They display an almost unnerving tendency to abide by time as if their life depended on it. Quick action is preferred over what is safer and more precise.

1. Attitude… The attitude! This is my most favourite of all. They have a certain panache in the very way that they move and converse. Each has her own distinct persona, oft leaving the confronted befuddled and at a loss of words. Such is its power. Such, is its potential. And it arises because of their awareness of its power.


2. Achievers… Call it a drive or desperation, but hitting the target is their ultimate aim. Once they set their eyes on something they want, you can be pretty darn sure they’ll go to whatever extent to get it. Morally sound or not depends once again on her raison d’être.


3. Dress Sense … Each has her own distinct style. Though most of them tend to accentuate their more ‘appealing assets’, if you get what I mean, while staying within the limits of acceptable dress code.

What follow are some specific examples of Power Women across the realms of reality and fiction that have caught my interest over the years…



Catherine Tramell

Sharon Stone’s riveting performance as the cold, calculating killer in the controversial 1992 flick ‘Basic Instinct’ sky-rocketed her career to unforeseen heights and shook the world in a way that the tremors continue to attract and astound till date. Though many watch the film solely with the intention of savouring the extraordinary doses of nudity and lovemaking, very few can claim thereafter that Stone’s devilry didn’t manage to captivate them. Being immortalised by the infamous leg-crossing scene during an interrogation with the police, boosted Sharon Stone’s raw résumé, and set a new precedent (though a nasty one) for Hollywood.

The character itself is a wealthy albeit bisexual novelist with an insatiable fetish for risk. An accomplished psychologist, her obvious obsession with innovating plots for her novels through personal experiences (read illegal) is hard to crack by both the police and other psychoanalysts. Matters are certainly not helped by her steamy persona and unnatural hunger for all things sexual.

Sharon Stone is the perfect Tramell, and she proves it once again in the recent mediocre sequel ‘Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction’. Perhaps the only thing that makes the movie shine is the presence of Tramell, migrating herself along with her evil intent from San Francisco to London. And among the Brits (though it may seem impossible), she’s more devious than ever before. At 48 years, Stone looks as ravishing as ever (except for a few wrinkles on the face), and was recently voted the most beautiful woman of her age, with the explanation, that her potency to the male libido rivals that of Viagra. Now that’s a Power Woman for you! A naughty one, but awe-inspiring nonetheless…


Lara Croft

Almost everyone must be familiar with this gem by now. First introduced to an unsuspecting audience of gamers in 1996 with a simple, yet elegantly designed character model, Lara Croft didn’t take long to become the most famous video game character to be ever created. Since then, the character has undergone several face-lifts in an attempt to make her more curvaceous and hence more realistic. But somewhere along the way, the designers went overboard with her ‘lovely lady lumps’. Finally in 2006, they arrived once again to a breakthrough in terms of character modelling with the ultra-realistic, polygon dripping, svelte figure with the release of the 7th instalment of the video game series titled ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Legend’.

Immortalised on the silver screen by a breathtakingly accurate portrayal with Angelina Jolie donning the hot pants, and annual listings for the past several years in the Guinness Book awarding recognition as the oldest, most successful virtual heroine, Croft sure has come a long way. Her fabricated personality, which spells ‘never say die’ and ‘touch-me-not-else-you're-screwed’, an undying thirst for adventure, her sensitivity for the good cause, coupled with the character itself which has maintained itself as the Queen of the Cyber-World since its initial release on Feb 14th 1996 (Yes…Valentine’s Day…Quite appropriate don’t you think?), Lara Croft defines the words ‘Power Woman’.


Velma Kelly

Chicago the movie wouldn’t have been CHICAGO! - The Oscar winning classic without the supporting role of Velma Kelly played by the astonishingly perfect-looking Catherine Zeta-Jones. Brought down over the years by talented stage actresses in the original Broadway musical smash (which I had the fortune of witnessing in Dubai), Velma is the unfortunate murderess of her whole family, comprising of her sister and her husband. A vaudeville star and part of a sister act before her apprehension and addition to Murderess Row, Kelly maintains her proclivity for stylish stage acts, liquor and jazz. Although considered to possess a role of lesser importance over the lead Roxie Hart (played by Reneé Zellweger), Velma Kelly is the one who lends the true spirit to the story, highlighting all the banes that existed in the social and legal system of the 1930s, through her powerful, stunning personality and notorious nature. Her ability to make any man or woman dance to the tune of her little finger and her natural charisma that gives her not only her freedom from jail but also the stardom she desired all along, makes her a natural member of the Power Woman Squad.


Meredith Johnson/Sonia Roy

Demi Moore in Disclosure and Priyanka Chopra in Aitraaz. Both essentially the same. Powerful executives of equally powerful multinationals, who don’t like to be stood up. Especially by their ex-lovers from whom they demand one night stands. Although Priyanka took the character one step up by making her more seductive and callous than her Hollywood counterpart (and with a lot more gall), both get what they want at any cost, and prove to be a sea of composure, confidence and attitude.


Other fictional women falling in this category include Miranda Priestly, the ruthless editor of Runway fashion magazine in The Devil Wears Prada, Angelina Jolie’s mesmerising portrayal of Olympias (Alexander the Great’s mother) in the 2004 picture Alexander, Kaileena, the enigmatic Empress of Time in the super successful video game Prince of Persia : Warrior Within, Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and several others…Though these are the ones that've had an impact on me so far…


Among Power Women in the living, breathing world, I am adequately aware of only one…though I do have an idea of several others as well…The one being Mata Hari.


Mata Hari

Mata Hari was the stage name of Margaretha Geertruida Zelle. A coutesan of Dutch origin in the early 20th century, she gained immense fame as an Indian and Oriental-style dancer. After moving to Paris, she became an overnight success with her enigmatic, flirtatious, confident promiscuity and her sylphlike and provocative dance-form, which was new to the French. She wasn’t merely a prostitute or a dancer. She was credited for significantly raising the bar in terms of quality of stage performances. With an ability to improvise and act along with dance and seduce, Mata Hari made dancing a more respectable, high society interest. Her facination with men in uniforms and her popular demand for numerous cross-border performances is what eventually led to her downfall. As she got further involved in the First World War scenario, she became a spy for the Germans against the French. She was even code-named H-21. She was executed through a firing squad after being found guilty in Paris.

Although never considered a good looker, Mata Hari reached her exalted status of an innovative dancer, a satisfying lover and an expert at covert spy operations through sheer street smartness, natural talent, intelligence and confidence. She is the original Femme Fatale.


So comes the conclusion of this exhaustive post about one of the many things in life which we overlook, but not quite. And to think, so far, I’ve only dealt with one type in one half of the human race. The diversity, the sheer complexity of human nature can never be truly categorised. But that is what we humans do with everything around us, don’t we? Inspect, label and archive. So why should human nature be any different?