Zoya Akhtar, Payal Kapadia, Sudha Kongara- 6 Trailblazing Women Filmmakers We Want To See More Of!

Here's a spotlight on 6 women storytellers in Indian cinema who in their own way have pushed boundaries breaking the norm.

Payal Kapadia

Currently making the country proud, Payal Kapadia made history by winning the coveted Grand Prix at the 77th Cannes Film Festival for her feature debut 'All We Imagine as Light'. Prior to which she bagged the Golden Eye at the Cannes Film Festival for her documentary film 'A night of knowing nothing' and also premiered her short film 'Afternoon Clouds' at the 70th Cannes Film Festival. Having made award winning short films, her feature debut 'All we Imagine as light', garnered rave reviews from all quarters and broke new grounds with regards to international co-productions for Indian feature films. With her win, this makes Kapadia, the only second Indian to bag the coveted honour of the Grand Prix since 1946. Also using her words to create impact, she in her acceptance speech urged the festival to not wait another 30 years to have another Indian film (in competition). A champion of change, she paves the way for more filmmakers and women in Indian cinema.

Mitakshara Kumar

An FTII graduate, Mitakshara Kumar is best known for her direction on the well received show 'The Empire' and more recently as the episodic director on the magnum opus 'Heeramandi'. Known for her ability to tackle with period pieces along with storytelling, Kumar has worked on numerous films including 'Bluffmaster', 'I Am', 'Youngistaan', 'Bajirao Mastaani' and 'Padmavat' among others. In a interview, the filmmaker was quoted saying that she gets bored when not on set, which echoes her passion for filmmaking. Going by what she has managed to do on the series front, we can only be sure that her feature would a joyous mix of storytelling and visual delight. She is currently in the midst of prepping for her feature debut which is touted to be a female centric comedy drama, produced by Nikhil Advani's 'Emmay Entertainment'.

Sudha Kongara

Two time Indian National award winning Filmmaker- Screenwriter, Sudha Kongara has constantly pushed the boundaries for women in cinema. Having started as a screenwriter on 'Mitr, my friend' directed by Revathy, Kongara made her debut with the Telugu film 'Andhra Andagadu' and soon followed that with the Tamil feature film 'Drohi', from a comedy feature to an action feature. Her Hindi-Tamil 'Saala Khadoos' also won her massive acclaim, before delivering a blockbuster with 'Sorrarai Pottru'. Having made films in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi, her latest feature is the much talked about feature 'Sarfira' headlining Akshay Kumar and Radhika Madan, in addition to another action feature. Besides setting the box office ringing with her films, she has also had them travel to numerous film festivals across the globe.

Rima Das

Named as one of the most influential young Indians by a notable magazine, Rima Das is a Indian national award winning filmmaker. Often called a one woman army, who is credited with filming, directing and editing her own films. She is best known for her films Village Rockstars (India's official entry to the Academy Awards), Bulbul Can Sing and more recently Tora's husband, all of which have travelled the best of film festivals globally. Her upcoming film titled 'Malati, my love' saw Singapore based production company Akanga Film Asia board the film. A force of power by herself, she has been silently championing a new narrative in Indian cinema, also putting Assamese cinema on the world map.

Zoya Akhtar

Filmmaker-Producer- Screenwriter, Zoya Akhtar has time and again proved that the commerce and the art of filmmaking is one that can be effortlessly married. Well regarded both in India and Internationally, she was invited to be a member at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Among the first to break the norm of what may be considered a festival film, she presented her films 'Bombay Talkies' and 'Gully Boy' at two major film festivals, both met with a roaring festival as well as audience response when released. Constantly pushing the envelope, she founded Tiger Baby along with Director-Screenwriter, Reema Kagti, that has since Gully boy continues producing and championing multiple storytellers and interesting stories.

Anjali Menon

A filmmaker and founder of the Women in Cinema Collective in Kerala, Anjali Menon began with the short film Black nor white which won her multiple awards. She made her feature debut with 'Manjadikuru' which also won her multiple awards at International film festivals. Her films Ustaad Cafe and Bangalore Days won her the Indian National award and the Kerala State award respectively. She founded Little Films, a production company that has been backing fiction and non fiction formats. In addition to being a ground breaking filmmaker, she is also a well regarded motivational speaker, with her Ted Talk starting a much needed conversation on "are we perpetuating bias in our society". It is learnt that she is currently in the midst of readying her next which is being made in tandem with KRG Studios.