International Women’s Day 2024: Dynamic directors breaking stereotypes

It is indeed saddening to see lesser women don the directors hat in mainstream cinema The first woman to helm a film was Fatma Begum Over the years there have been a few prominent names who have executed powerful stories There is a different recipe for a film that has been directed by a woman Be it the sensitive portrayal of a female character to the treatment of artists on set women directors have set higher standards in the industry Heres a look at those who have impressed the audience with their incredible work on screenMeghna GulzarDaughter of veteran lyricist and writer Gulzar Meghna has made movies like Talwar Raazi Chhapaak and recently lsquoSam Bahadurrsquo starring Vicky KaushalAshwiny Iyer TiwariFilmmaker Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari who is best known for her critically acclaimed films such as Nil Battey Sannata Bareilly Ki Barfi and Panga was last seen as a director for Faadu a web series around an intense poetic love story between two differentthinking characters It stars Saiyami Kher Pavail Gulati and Abhilash Thapliyal in the lead rolesKiran RaoAfter treating the audience with Dhobi Ghat the ace director and producer Kiran Rao returned to the directors chair with Laapataa Ladies Set in 2001 Madhya Pradesh a time when mobile phones were precious and the internet and technology had not made everything easily accessible the story of the movie revolves around two newlywed brides who get separated from their families and how a slipup sets many things right In a very subtle way using the elements of humour and hope Kiran has attempted to address a strong social issueGauri ShindeGauri Shinde made her directorial debut with English Vinglish starring Sridevi in the lead role After four years she came up with Dear Zindagi in 2016 featuring Alia Bhatt and Shah Rukh KhanFarah KhanChoreographer turned filmmaker Farah Khan made her directorial debut with Main Hoon Na starring Shah Rukh Khan However her biggest blockbuster project was Om Shanti Om in which she launched Deepika Padukone She went on to direct films like Tees Maar Khan and Happy New YearZoya AkhtarZoya who made her directorial debut with lsquoLuck By Chancersquo made her breakthrough with the comedydrama Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara Zoya is known for associating herself with different kinds of stories ranging from the family drama Dil Dhadakne Do to the musical drama Gully Boy She recently helmed The Archies starring Suhana Khan Agastya Nanda Khushi Kapoor and Vedang Raina among othersKonkona SensharmaActor Konkona Sensharma who found fame in the Hindi film industry with her role in her mother Aparna Sens acclaimed directorial Mr and Mrs Iyer donned the directors hat with A Death in the Gunj and Lust Stories 2Alankrita ShrivastavaAfter making headlines with the controversial film Lipstick Under My Burkha Alankrita went on to direct projects like Made in Heaven Bombay Begums and Modern Love Mumbai She is all set to direct a film about late Pakistani model and social media star Qandeel Baloch who was murdered in an honour killing in 2016 Shrivastava and coproducers Vikas Sharma and Sunny Khanna have acquired the rights to The Sensational Life and Death of Qandeel Baloch by Sanam Maher a book published by AlephWith inputs from ANI