DEFYING ALL ODDS
BREAKING AWAY FROM AGE- OLD STEREOTYPES IN A TRADITIONALLY MALE- DOMINATED INDUSTRY, WOMEN FILMMAKERS ARE FINALLY FINDING A SPACE AND VOICE FOR THEMSELVES
The past few years have seen women in a much bolder and stronger avatar in Bollywood — both in front of the camera and behind it. While much has been written about actresses shouldering the success of their movies, very few pay attention to the female directors who are changing the Indian cinema.
In an industry which has been dominated by men for decades, filmmakers such as Zoya Akhtar, Gauri Shinde, Meghana Gulzar, Ashwiny Tiwari, Farah Khan and others are not only making critically acclaimed films, but raking in the moolah too.
“I don’t think one should restrict filmmaking to men only,” says filmmaker Alankrita Shrivastava, the director of the black comedy film, Lipstick Under My Burkha.
“Our society is so patriarchal that men have always had an upper hand and have been telling their version of stories for decades. However, now women have the access and they are making brilliant cinema. Even so, there’s much work that needs to be done. We only have a handful of women behind the camera, and that needs to change,” she adds. Movies themselves have undergone a massive change. Gone are the days
when heroes were portrayed as macho men who could beat up 40 men at a time. Movies like English Vinglish, Zindagi Na Milegi
Dobara and Bareilly Ki Barfi have had more relatable characters. “Female directors are not just making woman- centric movies, they are directing all kinds of scripts. For instance, Farah Khan’s movies are more commercial, while Zoya’s and Gauri’s movies speak volumes about people and human relationships. I c a n n o t fathom Raazi being a success, had Meghana not directed it,” shares actress Renuka Shahane.
OUR SOCIETY IS SO PATRIARCHAL THAT MEN HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN UPPER HAND AND HAVE BEEN TELLING THEIR VERSION OF STORIES FOR DECADES NOW. HOWEVER, NOW WOMEN HAVE ACCESS AND THEY ARE MAKING BRILLIANT CINEMA. EVEN SO, WE ONLY HAVE A HANDFUL OF WOMEN BEHIND THE CAMERA, AND THAT NEEDS TO CHANGE ALANKRITA SHRIVASTAVA, filmmaker