As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, a thought surfaces in my mind. Perhaps every day should be a women’s day because the strength, care, resilience, and brilliance that women bring to the world are not limited to a single date on the calendar.
Can she have it all? Yes she can!
A woman should not have to choose between different parts of her life. She can pursue a fulfilling career, meaningful relationships, personal happiness, and a joyful family life, all without being limited by traditional expectations.
Here are a few ad films that highlight female empowerment, challenge gender bias, and encourage meaningful conversations about the issues women face and how they can be handled.
Every woman is human!
“Superwoman” by Tanishq introduces the young dynamic lady who aces everywhere. Just as she diligently manages her home, she does an amazing job in her professional realm. She does not forget her presentations at work, nor does she miss out giving presents to her relatives. Holding everything above herself, she works tirelessly around the clock.
As the day comes to a close, the woman becomes extremely tired. She also looks upset after facing obstacles at work. A question is asked: Is “Superwoman” a compliment or an expectation?
The ad film drives home a message that everyone needs to realize: Despite functioning like a superwoman, a woman is human after all! She has her limitations and needs the time for rest and relaxation.
When a man is asked a question that women usually face.
The clothing brand Biba delivers a powerful message in its ad film “Change for Progress”, challenging an age-old regressive belief.
At a party, an engineering student appears rather pompous after learning that his score on a mechanics exam is higher than that of a girl seated in the group. Soon an uncle walks in and asks about his academic plans. Confidently the young man says that he is doing well and hopes to apply to top universities for his master’s degree. But the conversation takes a surprising turn when the uncle asks him something unexpected. Why is he studying so hard if his ultimate goal in life is simply to take care of a family?
The question clearly upsets the young man. As he struggles to respond, the girls around him exchange knowing smiles. The girl whose grade he had put down earlier delivers the most powerful line of all: the very question that upset him so much is the same one women are asked all the time.
In that brief moment, the ad cleverly exposes how casually society imposes hypocritical limits on women’s aspirations and how unfair those expectations truly are.
She is the woman of the house!
Can only men run a household? The jewelry brand PC Jeweller challenges this deeply ingrained patriarchal assumption in an ad film.
At a party, two couples strike up a conversation. One woman admires the other’s diamond earrings and points them out to her husband Varun. He mockingly remarks that for an investment banker, gifting such an expensive present to his wife is no big deal. The banker husband then reveals that he is currently on leave from work to write a novel and has had no income for the past six months. During this time, the household expenses are being managed by his wife, who is a lawyer.
Varun responds rather condescendingly, telling the lawyer wife that in that case she must be the “man of the house.” She smilingly but firmly corrects him that she is not the man of the house; she is even better being the “woman of the house”.
In a simple yet impactful moment, the ad turns a common stereotype on its head and celebrates women as equal partners in building and sustaining a home.
Giving women the opportunity to share without being judged
An ad film by Prega News addresses an important yet often unspoken issue of a woman’s emotional struggles during postpartum life.
Garima walks into a ladies’ get-together with her newborn child. She had missed the previous gathering because she had been busy caring for the baby. As the women begin chatting, the conversation naturally turns to caring for a child, the joys and responsibilities of motherhood, and the many sacrifices that come with being a mother.
Garima listens quietly at first, but soon she has an emotional meltdown. She speaks about how much her life has changed since the birth of her child. Her career has taken a backseat, her body has changed, and despite doing her best, even her small parenting mistakes are often criticized. As much as she loves her baby, she confesses that she sometimes feels she has lost her identity.
Almost immediately, Garima feels guilty and says that she must sound like a bad mother. One of her friends gently stops her and reassures her that the emotions that she is experiencing are very common among women going through postpartum. She explains that these feelings are natural and that it is perfectly okay to share them with loved ones.
The ad film encourages meaningful conversations around postpartum struggles and reminds viewers that women experiencing postpartum blues deserve understanding, empathy, and support, never judgment.
It’s never too late to enjoy life
Reliance Fresh delivers a refreshing message for women in their fifties and beyond under the hashtag #JeeLeZaara.
In the ad film, a husband is unhappy with his wife for planning a trip to Goa with her girlfriends. He tries to discourage her with a list of excuses: that she is “not too young at fifty” to go to the beach, that there could be an accident, or that she might get lost.
When the husband complains that he doesn’t know how to cook and cannot manage in her absence, the wife brushes it aside, telling him he can experiment with his diet while she is away. As she prepares to leave, the husband feigns a stomach ache. She calmly advises him to eat the yogurt she has kept in the fridge, kisses him goodbye, and joins her friends for the trip.
The film concludes with a powerful message: after a lifetime of living for others, a woman deserves to live a little for herself.
A parting thought
These ad films stand out for capturing stories and emotions that truly resonate with women and their everyday journeys. Happy Women’s Day to all the amazing members of the global ladies’ sorority!
rashmi writes 