As the International Women Day (March 8) is celebrated today, Mollywood has something to celebrate. 2010 has turned into an year quite different from the recent others, where the importance of women in films were getting meager than ever before.

The year had some of the powerful women characters as heroines. Like the movies of the eighties, when Padmarajan and Bharathan ruled the roost with strong women protagonists, or some meaty presentations of Manju Warrier in a couple of films, we are sure some of the best female characters that will get easily into your mind when you go for a quick roundup, will be from the last year.

Though this is a welcome change, playing pretty dumb dolls ready to shake a leg in a couple of songs, seemed to be the normal expectations from a women heroine in majority of the commercial films. And interestingly, the female actors had already become a group whose shoot days will be the least in any normal commercial Mollywood movie sets. Let's us get into a fast revamp of the most effective characters that we have witnesses last year.

Sharbani Mukherjee in 'Sufi Paranja Katha' -As Karthyayani who refuses to give in to traditions and holds fast to her beliefs, Sharbani has put in a stunning performance as the lead lady, a mesmerizing women with a true spirit.

Mamtha Mohandas in 'Katha Thudarunnu'- Mamtha has easily found a place among the inspiring performers of the year with this role of Vidhyalskshmi. Meticulously rendering the emotions, mostly through her eyes and silent responses, the character that she portrays also remains as one of the best in her career.

Ann Augustine in 'Elsamma Enna Aankutty'- The débutante has suddenly turned the most wanted star with her confident essayal of the title role. This extremely promising debut definitely shows the shades of a fiery and fiercely independent Meera Jasmin of 'Kasthurimaan' and Manju Warrier of 'Kanmadham'. Her character who was into 'tooth and nail' fight with the ugly factors of the society was really applauded by the masses alike.

Meena Kumari, Padmapriya and Kamalini Mukherjee in 'Kutty Shranku'-All the three women actors who played altogether different characters in the movie by maverick director Shaji N Karun were tremendously effective. Though Meena Kumari does strike a special chord by playing that dumb character with that extra bit of bit of vulnerability, Padmapriya as Budha Sanyasin and Kamalinee Mukherjee as the actress in the folk drama also made remarkable performances in characters that will remain in the hearts for long.

Nithya Menon in 'Apoorva Raagam'- This comeback of the senior director Sibi Malayil also had a strong women character amidst its plenty of shock values that was promoted as its USP. Nithya Menon has put up a subtle but remarkable performance, giving the central character the necessary believability.

Samvrutha Sunil in 'Cocktail'- This experimentation really did work well, giving the actress the best of her roles, as a wife who befriends a stranger to teach her infidel husband, a long lasting lesson.

Urvashy and Archana Kavi in 'Mummy and me'- Urvashy, the seasoned actor share the best of the accolades with the young performer in Archana Kavi, as her daughter Jewel, around whom the movie was woven. Interestingly this was the only movie last year, that give more screen time discussing problems of generation gap faced by a new generation, independent women.