The evolution of Hindi cinema over the decade has been instrumental in giving birth to some fantastic filmmakers and producers. Breaking shackles and norms, we have seen some terrific women directors and producers emerge into the light to provide stories that are not only women-oriented but also dive deeper. From Leena Yadav’s horrifying documentary to Sophia Paul’s first Malayalam superhero film, these creators have not only kept us entertained, but they have also raised the bar with their content that elevates the entertainment space in India. Let us have a look at some of them!
International Women’s Day 2022: Women Creators Who Will Leave You Spell Bound
Director Renuka Shahane, Tribhanga: Tedhi Meri Crazy
Tribhanga is an asymmetrical Odissi dance pose reminiscent of the three female characters in the film – Nayantara, Anuradha, and Masha, played by Tanvi Azmi, Kajol, and Mithila Palkar, respectively. Renuka Shahane, daughter of renowned writer Shanta Gokhale, depicts the story of women evaluating their choices. A story of estranged mothers and their daughters is well-told by the director, who analyses society’s tendency to label women no matter what they do and their estranged relationship and the bond that binds them together despite the differences.
Sophia Paul, Producer, Minnal Murali
Sophia Paul produced several blockbusters and was the backbone of Weekend Blockbusters. Her Netflix film Minnal Murali is a different ball game altogether. By blending the story and superhero genre organically, she was able to accomplish the action sequences and VFX that were in keeping with the superhero genre. Through this film and others, Sophia Paul consolidated her position as a producer of note who explored a number of genres and created a number of hits.
Also Read: The Batman: 3 Reasons to Watch Matt Reeves-Robert Pattinson’s Unique Cinematic Experience
Nandini Reddy, Director – Pitta Kathalu
Netflix’s first Telugu anthology, Pitta Kathalu, follows four women as they navigate relationships that fluctuate between loyalty and betrayal. Actress Amala Paul and actor Jagapathi Babu star in one of the stories titled ‘Meera’ in Pitta Kathalu directed by Nandini Reddy. Jagapathi Babu played Meera’s abusive husband in one of the episodes of Pitta Kathalu in which Amala Paul played Meera. In the story, Meera deals with the issue of emotional abuse and physical abuse in the marriage of a woman who is a writer. Nandini Reddy’s film vividly depicts the couple’s relationship and how they navigate their marriage.
Leena Yadav, House of Secrets: The Burari Deaths
Leena Yadav is the showrunner and director of Burari Deaths which chronicles the story of the horrific deaths of eleven members of the Burari family. Her storytelling brought viewers all over the world together to showcase one of India’s most horrific stories and portrayed every detail of the true story in a way that will leave everyone wondering.
Anvita Dutt, Director, Bulbbul
Bulbbul is Anvita Dutt’s debut directorial endeavour. It is a fantastical 19th-century tale with folkloric elements that is set and shot in Bengal, revealing and illuminating the concept of ‘chudail’. Her childhood memories of cautionary tales and darker fairy tales influenced her creative process. With a fictional backdrop intended for entertainment, Anvita Dutt conveys a powerful message to women everywhere.
Creator & Producer Ashvini Yardi and Director Sonam Nair – Masaba Masaba
Masaba Masaba, directed by Sonam Nair and produced by Ashvini Yardi, captures real-life moments from Masaba Gupta’s life showing how she juggles the worlds of love, career and family. Ashvini Yardi and Sonam Nair touched topics on divorce and singlehood and beautifully illustrated how strong women can manage both home life and career with great aplomb.
Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, Director, Ankahi Kahaniya
Ankahi Kahaniya chronicles the story of a man’s complicated relationship with a mannequin, offering a fresh perspective on love and loneliness. Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari, who consistently challenges herself as a writer and looks beyond the conventional romance genre, shows the stories of souls who find unconventional ways to connect and find companionship amid the stressful life of the city.
Guneet Monga, Producer, Pagglait
Pagglait is the journey of Sandhya, a young girl who strives to let go from the shackles of family expectations to finding her own identity and purpose. Producer of several blockbusters, Guneet Monga is the power behind Sikhya Entertainment. A few of her blockbusters include The Lunchbox, Pagglait, and Gangs of Wasseypur. With films like Pagglait, Guneet Monga has successfully carved out a niche for herself in Bollywood.
Ayesha Sood, Indian Predator
Ayesha Sood is best known for her short film The Cherry On Top, which has won accolades and been screened at film festivals around the world. Besides short films, She has directed and produced multiple documentary series for broadcast and streaming platforms. Ayesha Sood is all set to enthral the audience with a gripping and suspenseful docu-series, Indian Predator, that decodes the minds of some of India’s most dangerous killers and is soon to premiere on Netflix.
Gazal Dhaliwal, Mismatched S2
Gazal Dhaliwal is renowned for her female narratives which explore the struggles, joys, and freedoms of women. She is the Lead Writer on Netflix’s coming-of-age series Mismatched and the anthology Feels Like Ishq (Episode: Quaranteen Crush). After successful films like Qarib Qarib Singlle and Lipstick Under My Burkha, Gazal Dhaliwal is geared up to enchant the audience with Mismatched S2 with fresh emotions, relationships, and new challenges.
Karishma Kohli, The Fame Game
Karishma Kohli is a filmmaker who debuted as a director with a show titled The Reunion and has worked as an associate director with Kabir Khan on films like Ek Tha Tiger and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. She recently co-directed the Netflix series The Fame Game with Bejoy Nambiar.
Naomi Datta, Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives S2
Naomi Datta is the creator of Netflix’s Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Wives, which depicts the lives of four famous wives of Bollywood – Bhavana Pandey, Maheep Kapoor, Neelam Kothari, and Seema Khan. Garnish your mimosas and tighten the lenses of your binoculars, because Naomi Datta is back with her glamorous divas, Fabulous Lives of Bollywood Lives S2 is coming with twice the drama, twice the spice, and twice the fashion!
Sarita Patil, Monica, Monica O My Darling
Sarita Patil is the senior producer in the leadership team of some of the biggest studios and production houses in India. Sarita successfully led the content as well as the production team, bringing to screen memorable projects like Drishyam, Andhadhun and Jamtara. Sarita will enchant the audience by producing the upcoming Netflix film Monica, O My Darling and the Netflix series Scoop. The blend of black comedy and white-collar crime in Monica, Oh My Darling is sure to intrigue and enthral the fans.
Tahira Kashyap Khurrana, Quaranteen Crush, Feels like Ishq
Author and filmmaker Tahira Kashyap Khurrana is known for her candid style of storytelling. Best Selling Author of ‘The 12 Commandments of Being A Woman’ and ‘The 7 Sins of Being A Mother’, she has received a roaring response from readers across the country, hailing the earnest portrayal of women in the most hilarious manner. As a rising icon for women empowerment, Tahira Kashyap Khurrana has subtly given voice to her characters fighting patriarchal norms in the most entertaining way. From her success with Toffee, Pinni, to her most recent release Quaranteen Crush, Tahira has cultivated a style of storytelling that connects with her audience.
You can watch all of these films and series now on Netflix.
Also Read: The Bombardment: All We Need to Know About Netflix’s Upcoming Danish Drama