International Women’s Day: Very best filmmaker in Indian cinema

Sudha Kongra, Shuchi Talati, Nandini Reddy, Payal Kapadia and Rupa Rao | Photo Credit: Hindu/ Reuters

For a very long time, Indian cinema has been primarily defined by male gaze, but a new wave of women’s filmmakers has re -written that story with some bold, most personal and culturally rich stories for the Grace screen in the country. In languages ​​and industries, these women have pushed boundaries, challenged conferences, and voiced characters, subjects and socio-cultural issues that could otherwise live in shade or were occupied through men’s eyes.

On International Women’s Day 2025, we celebrate these visionary narrators and their historical work, who have continued to reopen the possibilities of Indian cinema with their talent, crafts and incredible spirit.

Zoya Akhar – ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’

Still from ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’

Zoya Akhtar Zindagi na milei dobara There was a road trip film which doubled as a cultural reset for Hindi cinema. With his picturesque Spanish landscape, heart-making adventure sports, and a soundtrack, who boasted the generational anthem of Shankar-Ehsan-Loy, Akhtar discovered his three male heroes primarily with weaknesses and insecurity, mainly unpacked, which are some ecosysteaded through travel, which are some evicy, which are some educationals, which are some educationals, which are some educationals, which are some educationals, which are some educationals, which are some educationals, which are some educationals, Some are evicted. Akhtar’s story was individually universal yet universal, marked him as one of the most amazing chronicle in modern urban India, a difference that he still continues to continue today.

Roopa Rao – ‘Gantumote’

Still from ‘Gantumot’

Rupa Rao Gantumote Kannada cinema had a quiet revolution-An unfiltered age drama in the earlier-Internet era of 1990s. The film followed Meera, a studying high schooler who falls in love, only to find out that the biggest lesson of life often comes with heartbreak. Rao, who already carved a place Second love storyIndia’s first web series on a single-sex romance, brought a deep personal perspective GantumoteThe film was a milestone in Kannada cinema.

Sudha Kongra – ‘Sorarai Potru’

Still from ‘Soorai Pottru’

Sudha Kongra made a statement Sorarai PotruInspired by the real-life journey of Captain Village Gopinath, the founder of India’s first low-cost airline, the Tamil biography was deeply cinematic. Kongra, who first discovered underdog stories Irudhi SutuBring the same fire Sorarai PotruSuriya’s performance gave the film a emotional core, but it was an uncontrolled eye on Kongra’s class inequality, bureaucracy Chokhold on innovation and the sacrifices behind success, which raised the story beyond the only rags-to-rich arch. With several National Film Awards and a Golden Globe Submission, Sorarai Potru Kongra was made one of the most fearless filmmakers of Tamil cinema.

Anjali Menon – ‘Bangalore Days’

Still from ‘days of Bangalore’

Anjali Menon Bangalore Days Malayalam cinema remains a benchmark for artists contingent, which captures both the dreams and chaos of the big city through the eyes of three small town cousins. Menon, who was already affected Manjdikuru And Ustad HotelA story uses romance, comedy and drama which resonated in generations. The strength of the film lies in its characters – Nwin Popole, Duler Salman and Nazaria Nazim – and Menon’s layered female characters were rarely seen in commercial films. About a decade later heat Bangalore Days Stays unmatched.

Nandini Reddy – ‘Ala Modudrandi’

Still from ‘Ala Modudrandi’

Nandini Reddy Ala modalindi Telugu cinema had a breath of fresh air. Rome-Kom felt light on his feet, yet claimed an unexpected structure and cracking chemistry between Nani and Nithya Menen. Reddy prepared a interactive screenplay, which felt comfortable and re -defined the modern Telugu love story. The success of the film paved the way for a new wave of Rome-Com’s, causing Reddy to become a trailblazer in an industry, as Hypermasulin as Tollywood, where there were female directors, and still a rare.

Sandhya Suri – ‘Santosh’

Still ‘Santosh’

A documentary in the heart, Sandhya Suri is getting ready for stories that see the flexibility of neglect. with SatisfactionHer story feature debut, she went into imagination, but her sympathy remains a tendency. Developed over the years, the United Nations from its world premiere in Cannes to Cannes, Satisfaction Follow a young widow, who steps into her late husband’s police uniform, only to find himself to face the entry forces of gender and power in rural India. Due to Shahna Goswami’s performance, the film increased in popularity as the Oscar submission of the United Kingdom last year and made a BAFTA node, Suri a new voice from India for excellent start.

Shuchi fry – ‘Girls will be girls’

Will still be ‘girls girls’

with Girls will be girlsShuchi Talati made a striking feature debut, with adolescent contradictions. Set at a Cloated Himalayan Boarding School, the film is presented with a rare, fickle honesty. It is presented with a rare, playful honesty. Premier in Sunndens and winning the Audience Award, Talati’s film took the story of the upcoming age and infected it with an immedia, who felt alive and refreshed. AFI Alumtiy also went to win the Independent Spirit John Casswits Award for the film earlier this year.

Payal Kapadia – ‘We all imagine as light’

Still ‘we imagine all of us as light’

Payal Kapadia’s cinema is like a dream and at a marginal place between the hyperl. If Night not to know anything There was a documentary by memory, We all imagine as light Without surrendering her instinct for intimacy, the story marks her full-body of filmmaking. In order to compete for the first Indian film Palme D’Or’s Cannes in three decades, Payal left the film festival with Grand Prix. A story of friendship and longing against Mumbai’s brainstorm, the film topped the lists of critics throughout the year, named one of the top five international films of 2024 by the National Board of Review, received two Golden Globe nominations, and also nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Film in English language.